[Prevalence of congenital malformations at birth in Chilean maternity hospitals].

BACKGROUND The Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC) is an epidemiological surveillance system operating in 11 South American countries since 1969. AIM To analyze the Congenital Malformation prevalence rate at birth from 2001 to 2010 in Chilean Hospitals participating in ECLAMC. To compare these rates with those of the period 1982-1994. MATERIAL AND METHODS Review of the ECLAMC database, which contains information about 282.568 newborns, 2.110 of them stillbirths (0.75%) from 13 Maternity hospitals. RESULTS In the study period, 10.925 newborns had congenital malformations (3.9 %). Their frequency was lower in live newborns than stillbirths (3.8 and 15.3%, respectively). Compared with the 1982-1994 period, congenital malformation prevalence rates at birth were higher. They stabilized in approximately 4 %, from 1985 to 2010. The prevalence of some anomalies such as Down syndrome increased significantly. On the other hand, there was a reduction in the prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly. CONCLUSIONS Prevalence rates of congenital malformations at birth remained stable in the last 18 years in Chilean Hospitals participating in ECLAMC. However the prevalence of some malformations such as Down syndrome, Polydactyly, anotia-microtia, syndactyly and cleft palate have increased. The prevalence rates of spina bifida and anencephaly have decreased.