Congenital malformations at birth in Central India: A rural medical college hospital based data

OBJECTIVE: To study the incidence of congenital anomalies and the associated risk factors in Department of Pediatrics at Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sevagram, Wardha, a rural medical college hospital in central Maharashtra. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All the intramural deliveries between 1 January 2005 and 31 July 2007 comprised 9386 births and their 9324 mothers (62 mothers gave birth to twin babies). The newborns were examined and assessed systematically for the presence of congenital anomalies, system wise distribution of anomalies and risk factors attributable. RESULTS: Out of the total 9386 deliveries, 9194 were live births and 192 were stillbirths. The total number of babies with congenital malformations was 179 (1.91%). Out of the 9262 singleton births, 177 (1.05%) were malformed, whereas 2 of the 62 pairs of twins had birth defects. Nine of the 179 malformed babies (5.02%) were still born. Prematurity, increased maternal age, increasing birth order and low birth weight were found to have a higher risk of congenital anomalies. Cardiovascular malformations were most common in live births, followed by musculoskeletal and genitourinary anomalies. CONCLUSION: Congenital anomalies are a major cause of stillbirths and infant mortality. Evaluation of cardiovascular system to rule out congenital heart disease in high-risk mothers’ babies is the important factor to be considered.


Brief Report
to structural defects at birth. [1] The leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality in poorer countries are malnutrition and infections, whereas in developed countries they are cancer, accidents and congenital malformations. Congenital anomalies account for 8-15% of perinatal deaths and 13-16% of neonatal deaths in India. [2,3] Patients with multiple congenital anomalies present a relatively infrequent but tremendously difficult challenge to the pediatrician. The proportion of perinatal deaths due to congenital malformations is increasing as a result of reduction of mortality due to other causes owing to the improvement in perinatal and neonatal care.
In the coming decades, this is going to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in centers providing good neonatal care. The present study was carried out with the aim to determine the overall rate of congenital malformations, incidence in live births and stillbirths, as well as incidence affecting various organ systems, at a rural medical college hospital in Maharashtra and compare them to previous studies.

Materials and Methods
This study was conducted in Department of Pediatrics Ultrasound was employed routinely to detect multiple congenital anomalies and to rule out majority of the internal congenital anomalies. 2D echocardiography was also used for all congenital heart diseases, along with the routine X-ray chest and electrocardiogram. Other Babies with congenital anomalies were of the first order (34.63%), and second order to third order (51.95%). More   with the earlier studies from the same hospital, which reported an incidence of 2.72 and 1.24% subsequently. [4,5] When autopsies are performed in the hospitals, the incidences of birth defect is increases upto 3times higher.
Higher autopsy rates at Chandigarh and Pondicherry centers reported a higher incidence of congenital malformations. [5,6] This study revealed higher incidence of anomalies in stillbirths (4.68%), which is in concordance with a previous report. [4,5] Association of low birth weight with increased risk of congenital malformations was very well documented. [6] Our finding is in accordance with this. The incidence of congenital anomalies was significantly higher in preterm babies as compared to full term babies. [7] Previous studies have reported male preponderance amongst congenital malformed babies, [6] which was statistically insignificant in our study. Previous data showed a definite increase in incidence of congenital malformation in babies born to consanguineous parents. [7] Fourteen cases had a history of consanguinity in our present study. This study has statistically shown that mothers, above 30 years of age, stand at a higher risk of producing malformed babies. Sugunabai [8] reported a higher incidence of malformation in the babies born to mothers aged over 35 years, whereas Datta et al. [5] documented statistically insignificant association of increased maternal age and congenital anomalies.
Previous studies have [6] reported that significantly higher incidence of malformation among the mothers of gravida 4 or more and our results are consistent with this finding. This indicates that as the birth order increases, the incidence of congenital anomalies also increases. The previous study evaluated the factors that significantly increase the risk of congenital malformations to be presence of hydramnios, maternal febrile illness in the first trimester, past history of abortions, diabetic mother, eclampsia, previous abortion and history of congenital heart disease in previous child or malformed babies. Certain maternal diseases may occasionally lead to increased risk of birth defects. According to Ordonez et al., [9]  The annual report of Indian Council of Medical Research [10] says that the commonest congenital malformations are cardiac in nature (0.57%). Our study conforms to this. The low prevalence of cardiovascular defects at birth is reported by many studies in the literature, given that their diagnosis is usually made after discharge from the maternity hospital. [11] But in our hospital, regular echocardiography of the child of a mother having a history of high risk pregnancy is done. Kalra et al. [12] reported that the CNS defects have the highest incidence, whereas Sugunabi et al. [8] reported gastrointestinal malformations to rank the highest. Mathur et al. [7] reported that the musculoskeletal abnormalities were the commonest.
This study showed that cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and genitourinary were the most commonly affected systems in a descending order of frequency. With regard to the cardiovascular system, ventricular septal defect was the most common lesion found in high-risk mothers who had history of previous child with congenital heart disease, diabetic mothers or those with previous congenital malformed baby.
Congenital Talipes Equino varus was the commonest musculocutaneous abnormality observed in our study.
Among the genitourinary tract anomalies, hypospadias, undescended testis, and polycystic kidney were the most prevalent lesions. Regarding the central nervous system, the most prevalent anomaly encountered was microcephaly, Dandy walker malformation and meningomyelocele. With special reference to the neural tube defect (NTD), the incidence of NTD has markedly reduced in the developed countries following mass promotion and mandatory prescription of folic acid for pregnant mothers. [13][14][15][16] The incidence of congenital heart disease was the leading congenital malformation followed by musculoskeletal system as compare with previous study [ Table 4] conducted at MGIMS hospital.

Conclusions
Congenital anomalies are a major cause of stillbirths and infant mortality. By thorough clinical examination, the life-threatening congenital malformation must be identified, as early diagnosis and surgical correction of the malformed babies offer the best chance for survival.
The incidence of congenital heart disease is much higher than that previously reported from the other parts of the country and from the same area also. Evaluation of cardiovascular system to rule out congenital heart disease in a high-risk mother's baby is the important factor to be considered.