Congenital hypothyroidism in Western Australia 1981-1998.
OBJECTIVE
Newborn screening for congenital hypothyroidism began in Western Australia in 1981. We describe the epidemiology, including trends over time.


METHODS
Population-based registers and databases were used to identify cases of congenital hypothyroidism in 1981-1998 (n = 126), a random sample of controls (n = 1260), and descriptive data on cases and controls. The prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism per 10 000 live births was calculated, and a case-control analysis conducted.


RESULTS
The prevalence of congenital hypothyroidism was 1.74 per 10 000 in the period 1981-1987, compared with 3.54 per 10 000 between 1988 and 1998. Infants identified with congenital hypothyroidism were significantly more likely to have other birth defects (particularly heart defects), be female, have a birthweight heavier than 4500 g, and be born either preterm or after 41 weeks gestation. No cases had cerebral palsy or intellectual disability.


CONCLUSIONS
Population-based registers and linked databases can provide very useful information for evaluating screening programmes, and extending our knowledge of the epidemiology of congenital hypothyroidism.
Kurinczuk
J J
JJ
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Leicester, UK.
Bower
C
C
Lewis
B
B
Byrne
G
G
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology