Rasmussen, S. A., Moore, C. A., Paulozzi, L. J., & Rhodenhiser, E. P. (2001). Risk for birth defects among premature infants: a population-based study. The Journal of Pediatrics, 138(5), 668-673. https://doi.org/10.1067/mpd.2001.112249
Rasmussen SA, Moore CA, Paulozzi LJ, Rhodenhiser EP. Risk for birth defects among premature infants: a population-based study. J Pediatr. 2001;138(5):668-673. doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.112249
Rasmussen, Sonja A., et al. "Risk for birth defects among premature infants: a population-based study." The Journal of Pediatrics, vol. 138, no. 5, 2001, pp. 668-673.
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Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services05xte6x19
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities021asz590
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention042twtr12
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Abstract
Objective
To investigate the relationship between prematurity and birth defects.
Study Design
In a population-based cohort study, infants with birth defects were ascertained through the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, a surveillance system with active methods of ascertainment. Gestational age data were obtained from birth certificates of liveborn, singleton infants with and without birth defects born in the 5-county metropolitan Atlanta area.
Results
Among 264,392 infants with known gestational ages born between 1989 and 1995, 7738 were identified as having birth defects (2.93%). Premature infants (<37 weeks' gestation) were more than two times as likely to have birth defects than term infants (37-41 weeks) (risk ratio = 2.43; 95% CI 2.30-2.56). This relationship was evident for several categories of birth defects. The rate of birth defects varied by gestational age categories, with the highest risk in the 29- to 32-week gestational age category (risk ratio = 3.37).
Conclusions
The risk for birth defects is increased in premature infants. Awareness of this relationship is important for clinicians caring for premature infants. The morbidity and mortality associated with a particular defect may be significantly altered by the presence of prematurity. Further study of this association may provide insight into the etiology of these relatively common problems.
