Frequency of congenital malformations in Chilean hospitals in the period 1995-1999

Background: The Latin American collaborative study of congenital malformati ons (ECLAMC) is a surveillance program designed to monitor tbe frequency of congenital malformations and detect abrupt changes in their-frequency, loo k for tbe cause of such change and implement primary prevention measures. A im: To construct a secular trend curve with the frequency of congenital mal formations in Chile. Material and methods: Using the ECLAMC-protocol, every malformed newborn or stillbirth, weighting more than 500 g at birth is reg istered using a standard protocol, and the next non malformed child of the same sex born in the same hospital is assigned as control. Using tbe gather ed data, secular trend curves of congenital malformations were constructed. Results: Between 1982 and 1999, there is a secular tendency in the rate of congenital malformations and material age, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8 and slope of 13.5 (p <0.05). The rates of congenital malformations a t the moment of birth are higher at the University of Chile Clinical Hospit al than in the rest of Chilean hospitals and other Latin American Hospitals . Anencephalia is a defect with a high frequency in Concepcion and spina bi fida has a high frequency in Rancagua, Vina del Mar, Concepcion and Valdivi a. There is an impressive increase in malformations dependent on Prenatal d iagnosis such as kidney agenesis, polycystic kidney and diaphragmatic ben,, ia. Conclusions: Congenital malformations are having an increasing importan ce as causes of morbidity or mortality in the newborn.