Maternal risk factors for congenital limb deficiencies: A population‐based case–control study

Background Risk factors for congenital limb deficiencies are poorly understood. Objective To investigate risk deficiencies. Methods We conducted a nationwide population-based case–control (1:5) study in Finland, using national registers on anomalies, births, and induced abortions, cross-linked with data maternal prescription medicine use obtained from the Reimbursed Drug Purchases Medical Special Reimbursements. Five hundred four children (241 isolated, 181 syndromic, 82 other associated anomalies) were identified, 2,520 controls matched to cases residence year of pregnancy. Non-syndromic (n = 323) subdivided into longitudinal 120), transverse 123), intercalary 24), mixed 18), unknown 38) Results Pregestational diabetes was all (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 12.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.37, 68.25) isolated (OR 11.42, CI 2.00, 64.60) Primiparity increased among 1.49, 1.15, 1.93), 1.46, 1.09, 1.96), 1.90, 1.24, 2.90) 1.75, 1.13, 2.70). Young age (<25 years) 1.40, 1.02, 1.90) 1.76, 1.05, 2.96). Advanced (≥35 syndromic 1.82, 1.19, 2.78) 1.94, 1.06, 3.57). Maternal antiepileptic medication 5.77, 19.04) 3.83, 14.34). Conclusions It is important that pregnant women taking medications, especially antiepileptics, or pregestational carefully monitored regard occurrence fetus.