Mortality due to congenital malformations in Chile (1969-1997)

Background: Congenital malformations are defined as those structural, metab olic of functional defects found at birth. Aim To study the mortality due t o congenital malformations in Chile between 1963 and 1997, their type, indi vidual, temporal and geographic variations. Material and Methods: A descrip tive analisis of deaths registered by the National Statistics Institute and the Ministry of Health. Means, frequency, raw and adjusted rates were calc ulated and inferences for some variables were carried out. Results: Between 1969 and 1997 ther was tendency towards a reduction in rates of mortality due to congenital malformations and an increment in their relative importan ce. During the period the risk for chromosome (98%) and osteomuscular (67%) malformations increased. Men and children of less than one year had the hi gher risk. In 1995, 1167 deaths due to congenital malformations were regist ered, 90% in children of less than 5 years. Higher risks occurred in urban zones (with a rate of 8.25 per 100,000) in the third region (rate 11.59) an d second region (rate 11.2). Most deaths occurred in hospitals (85%). Main causes of death were circulatory system, central nervous system and chromos ome malformations. Conclusions: The differences in regional deaths due to c ongenital malformations suggests specific risks that deserve further study.