Sex ratio of congenital abnormalities in the function of maternal age: a population-based study

Gender bias in fetal malformations: A cross-sectional study in Asian populations

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to detect any gender bias in fetal malformation cases.

DESIGN

This study was a cross-sectional, quantitative survey.

SUBJECTS

Overall, 1,661 Asian fetal malformation cases involving induced abortions in the obstetrics department of the first Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from 2012 to 2021 were included.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Measurements of ultrasound detectable structural malformations were classified into 13 subtypes. Karyotyping, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, or sequencing diagnosis of these fetus was also included in the outcome measures.

RESULTS

The sex ratio (male/female) of all malformation types was 1.446. Cardiopulmonary had the highest proportion of all malformation types with 28%. Diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele, gastroschisis, nuchal translucency (NT), and Multy malformations had significantly higher proportions of males (p < 0.05). Digestive system malformations had a significantly higher proportion of females (p < 0.05). Maternal age was associated with genetic factors (r = 0.953, p < 0.001) and inversely associated with brain malformations (r = -0.570, p = 0.002). More males were found with trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and monogenetic diseases, while duplications, deletions, and uniparental disomy (UPD) had similar sex ratios between males and females, but not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Sex differences are common with fetal malformations, with higher proportions of males. Genetic testing has been proposed to account for these differences.

Geospatial analysis of births with congenital disorders, Paraná, 2008-2015: ecological study

OBJECTIVE

analyze the pattern of spatial distribution of the prevalence rate of births with congenital disorders and its relationship with social, economic, health care and environmental indicators in Paraná, Brazil, from 2008 to 2015.

METHOD

ecological study with variables extracted from secondary banks, related to the births of children of mothers residing in Paraná, in two quadrennial (2008-2011 and 2012-2015). The analysis of the rates was performed with univariate spatial (Moran) and multivariate approach (Ordinary Least Squares and Geographically Weighted Regression).

RESULTS

the occurrence of congenital disorders presented a significant association (p<0.05) with: registration in primary care of pregnant women over 20 years of age; urbanization degree; consumption of pesticides; and balance of female formal employment.

CONCLUSION/FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

social, health care and environmental variables showed a non-stationary spatial pattern in the analyzed period and influenced positively and negatively the rates.