| Author | Miriam Gatt |
| Abstract | The Malta Congenital Anomalies Register is population based and covers all births on the islands of Malta and Gozo. All infants/fetuses diagnosed or suspected of having a congenital anomaly until one year of age are included. The total number of births (live and stillbirths) in Malta and Gozo during the year 2003 was 3920 (3902 livebirths and 18 fetal deaths). Of these, 109 were registered as having one or more major anomalies by December 2005, giving an overall birth prevalence rate of infants/fetuses born with congenital anomaly of 278.1/10,000 total births. Of the 109 registered infants/fetuses with congenital anomalies, 74 (68%) were male and 35 (32%) were female giving a male : female ratio of 1:0.47. The majority of babies registered in 2003 had isolated defects (73%), while 10% of infants / fetuses had chromosomal anomalies, only 6% had recognised syndromes or sequences. 51% of babies registered were diagnosed at birth. The great majority (81%) were diagnosed until one month of age, however a not insignificant 18% were diagnosed between 28 days and 1 year of age. The highest rate of birth defects was recorded in the lowest maternal age group with a prevalence 36.5/1000 births. An overall prevalence of 31.7/1000 births with congenital anomaly was recorded in deliveries to mothers 35 years and over and a prevalence of 27.3/1000 births was recorded for mothers less than 35 years of age. The most commonly encountered group of anomalies in the year 2003 were Congenital Heart Defects. These accounted for 38% of all anomalies registered. The next most frequently encountered group of anomalies were limb defects, which accounted for 14% of all anomalies registered in 2003. |
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| Key words | congenital anomalies, registry, male:female ratio, mortality, cardiac malformations, isolated defects, health information |