Epidemiologic trends of infants with orofacial clefts in a multiethnic country: a retrospective population-based study

Abstract Cleft births surveillance is essential in healthcare and prevention planning. Data are needed precision medicine to target upstream management for at-risk individuals. This study characterizes Singapore’s population-based orofacial cleft topography by ethnicity gender, establishes the cohort’s infant mortality rate. Data, decade 2003 2012, were extracted National Birth Defects Registry. Trend testing linear regression was at p < 0.05 significance level. Prevalence per 10,000 live 16.72 with no significant upward trend (p = 0.317). rates 8.77 isolated group, 7.04 non-isolated 0.91 syndromic group. There infants clefts 0.0287). trends clefts. sexually dimorphic ethnic-specific: male 17.72; female 15.78; Chinese group 17.17; Malay 16.92; Indian 10.74; mixed ethnic origins 21.73. The overall rate (IMR) 4.8% cohort of 608 births, which more than double IMR 2.1% same period. Infants accounted 96.6% deaths.