Global Burden of Orofacial Clefts and the World Surgical Workforce

Abstract

rofacial clefts are one of the most common congenital anomalies, but this disease burden is unevenly distributed worldwide. Common estimates of incidence range between one in 500 and one in 1000 live births, although the rates vary by country and by region. 1 Care for the child with an orofacial cleft requires a multidisciplinary approach, including plastic surgery, otolaryngology, dentistry, speech pathology, and social work 2 ; however, the worldwide surgical workforce is inequitably distributed. 3 Areas with increased burden of orofacial clefting and a relatively smaller surgical workforce have been the focus of philanthropic organizations Background: Orofacial clefts are one of the most common congenital anomalies, but this disease burden is unevenly distributed worldwide. The authors hypothesize that this burden falls disproportionately on the countries with the smallest surgical workforce or lowest Socio-Demographic Index, rather than those with the highest prevalence of disease. Methods: The authors estimated the prevalence and disease burden of orofacial clefting from 1990 to 2017 in 195 countries using the Global Burden of Disease methodology. Prevalence and disability-adjusted life-years were compared geographically, temporally, and against the size of the national surgical workforce, Socio-Demographic Index, and income status. Linear and logarithmic regressions were performed. Results: In 2017, the prevalence of orofacial clefting was estimated to be 10.8 million people, representing a disease burden of 652,084 disability-adjusted life-years, with most of this disease burden experienced by low-and middleincome countries (94.1%). From 1990 to 2017, there was a decrease in disease burden (-70.2%) and prevalence (-4.9%). There was negative logarithmic association between surgical workforce size and disease burden, with a surgical workforce of greater than six providers per 100,000 population (3.6 disabilityadjusted life-years versus 22.4 disability-adjusted life-years per 100,000 population; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Burden of orofacial clefting has a strong negative association with the size of the surgical workforce, suggesting that strengthening the surgical workforce will help alleviate this burden. Epidemiologic data on countries and regions with inadequate surgical workforces and high disease burden should guide future research efforts and allocation of resources, and guide the treatment and educational goals of international charitable organizations. (Plast.

A multi‐program analysis of cleft lip with cleft palate prevalence and mortality using data from 22 International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research programs, 1974–2014

“…The pooled birth prevalence presented for total CLP of 6.4 per 10,000 births is slightly lower than what would have been expected from the global literature. Mossey et al presented a prevalence of 1 per 700 LB corresponding to 14.3 per 10,000 LB for all OFC and Massenburg present a prevalence of 141.56 per 100,000 of OFC in their study population corresponding to 14.1 per 10,000 LB (Massenburg et al, 2021; Mossey et al, 2009). In Europe, a reported prevalence of 14.26 OFC per 10,000 births is reported (European Commission, 2022).…”

Depression in Chinese Patients with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Preliminary Study

“…Research [ 37 , 38 ] has suggested that eating disorders primarily afflicted young adults within high-income countries. Additionally, CP can lead to dysfunction of swallowing of the patients due to the abnormal anatomical structure of the palate and pharynx, which may affect patients’ appetite and normal food intake [ 39 ]. It may explain why the severity of the abnormal food intake was associated with the monthly family income in patients with CP.…”

The correlation between OSA-related quality of life and two mental statuses in adolescent Chinese patients with cleft palate: A comprehensive study

“…Cleft palate (CP) is one of the most common congenital abnormalities, which can lead to dysfunction of speech, breathing, and swallowing of the patients due to the abnormal anatomical structure of the palate and pharynx (1). CP might also bring nasal deformities, retrusive midface or small pharyngeal airway as the patients growing up, and herein exposes them to a high risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (2).…”