Birth defects in very low birth weight infants increased in past 10 years

Birth defects are still a common cause of morbidity and mortality in very low birth weight infants, according to recent study results published in Pediatrics.

“In the United States, birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality, accounting for an estimated 20% of all infant deaths,” researchers wrote. “Population-based epidemiologic data demonstrate an association between preterm or low birth weight and various [birth defects].”

The prospective cohort study included 37,262 infants weighing 401 g to 1,500 g born at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network centers between 1998 and 2007.

Researchers found birth defects in 4.8% of participants. Birth defect yearly prevalence increased from 4% of participants born in 1998 to 5.6% in 2007 (P<.001).

They also found that chromosomal and cardiovascular anomalies occurred in 20% of affected participants. Mortality was also higher among infants with birth defects compared with those without (49% vs. 18%, respectively; RR=3.66; 95% CI, 3.41-3.92). Of those infants with birth defects surviving more than 3 days, 48% underwent major surgery vs. 13% without birth defects.

“Frequency of a major [birth defect] was low among [very low birth weight] infants but increased during the 10-year period,” researchers wrote. “Infants with [birth defects] had an increased risk of neonatal mortality compared with peers without [birth defects]. As boundaries for the care of extremely premature and [very low birth weight] infants with [birth defects] continue to shift to lower [gestational ages], it is important to evaluate morbidity and mortality among affected infants.”

Disclosure: The study was funded by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the NIH.