Precurrence risk of birth defects in Hawaii

Abstract

The aim of the investigation was to describe the risk of selected types of birth defects among older siblings of infants and fetuses with specific birth defects. Using data from a population-based birth defects registry in Hawaii for deliveries during 1986-2000, the precurrence risk (risk among older siblings) for any major birth defect, birth defects of the same organ system, and same specific birth defect were calculated for nine major organ systems and 54 specific birth defects. The precurrence risk of any major birth defect (3.5%) was substantially less than the risk of any major birth defect among the entire population (4.7%). The precurrence risk of a birth defect of the same organ system was significantly higher than the reference rate for six (67%) of the major organ systems and eight (15%) of the specific birth defects. The precurrence risk of the same birth defect was substantially elevated for 15 (28%) of the specific birth defects. Precurrence risk of any major birth defect was not elevated, but tended to be lower than expected. However, for several categories, precurrence risk of birth defects of the same organ system or the same specific birth defect was substantially elevated.

Maternal age and prevalence of isolated congenital heart defects in an urban area of the United States

“…Our finding of an association of ASDs with advanced maternal age is consistent with several previous reports [Rothman and Fyler, 1976;Ferencz et al, 1997;Pradat et al, 2003;Forrester and Merz, 2008]. Our findings also corroborated other studies showing an effect of advanced maternal age on VSDs [Rothman and Fyler, 1976;Forrester and Merz, 2008], coarctation of the aorta [McBride et al, 2005], and D-TGA [Rothman and Fyler, 1976;Ferencz et al, 1997;Reefhuis and Honein, 2004].…”

“…Our findings also corroborated other studies showing an effect of advanced maternal age on VSDs [Rothman and Fyler, 1976;Forrester and Merz, 2008], coarctation of the aorta [McBride et al, 2005], and D-TGA [Rothman and Fyler, 1976;Ferencz et al, 1997;Reefhuis and Honein, 2004]. Some discrepancies between our study and previous reports regarding the association between maternal age and increased risk of selected CHD phenotypes might be due in part to differences in study populations, methods, and unaccounted confounding or effect modification [Correa-Villaseñor et al, 1994;Pradat et al, 2003;Reefhuis and Honein, 2004;McBride et al, 2005;Forrester and Merz, 2008]. For example, a case-control study designed to evaluate the effects of exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) on the risk of CHDs found maternal age to be an effect modifier for the relationship between TCE and CHDs [Yauck et al, 2004].…”

“…We have opted for not using any of the methods to account for multiple comparisons because such methods have not proven to be widely accepted or used, particularly in situations where the inferential process may be more complex and involve a sequential exploratory approach (e.g., going from the aggregate to subgroups to more specific phenotypes) in an effort to determine possible sources of variation. Our results suggest that the prevalence of isolated CHDs as a group increases with increasing maternal age, as has also been noted by other authors [Croen and Shaw, 1995;Hollier et al, 2000;Reefhuis and Honein, 2004;Forrester and Merz, 2008]. In the maternal age category 35 years of age or older, our estimates were within the ranges previously reported by others [Hollier et al, 2000;Reefhuis and Honein, 2004;Reller et al, 2008].…”

Prevalence and risk factors of congenital heart defects among live births: a population-based cross-sectional survey in Shaanxi province, Northwestern China

“…Our results were consistent with previous reports [20–22]. Miller et al reported that infants born to mothers older than 35 years were more likely to suffer from CHD than those born to younger mothers [21], and Reefhuis and Honein [22] also observed a positive association between maternal age and heart defects.…”

Electrochromic properties of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) nanocomposite film containing SiO2 nanoparticles

“…Our results suggest that the prevalence of isolated CHDs as a group increases with increasing maternal age, as has also been noted by other authors [Croen and Shaw, 1995; Hollier et al, 2000; Reefhuis and Honein, 2004; Forrester and Merz, 2008]. In the maternal age category 35 years of age or older, our estimates were within the ranges previously reported by others [Hollier et al, 2000; Reefhuis and Honein, 2004; Reller et al, 2008].…”