Case fatality among infants with congenital malformations by lethality.
OBJECTIVE
Infant mortality rates continue to show that congenital anomalies are the leading cause of infant death in the United States. However, studies of factors contributing to increased mortality across different types of congenital anomalies have been limited. The objective of this study was to assess whether the likelihood of infant mortality varied by maternal race and ethnic group while considering the severity of the birth defect.


METHODS
A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using data from Colorado's statewide, population-based birth defects surveillance system (CRCSN). The cohort included infants, born between 1995 and 2000 to Colorado resident mothers, who were diagnosed with major congenital malformations stratified by degree of lethality. Multiple logistic regression was performed for each level of lethality, and included the following potential explanatory variables: maternal race/ethnicity, clinical gestation, birth weight, maternal education level, maternal age, and sex of child.


RESULTS
Within the low/very low lethality cohort, maternal race/ethnicity of Black/non-Hispanic was associated with increased risk of infant mortality, OR 2.81 (1.41-5.19), as were low and very low birth weight, OR 2.21 (1.12-4.04) and 19.31 (11.84-31.01), respectively. Maternal race/ethnicity was not a significant risk factor in either high or very high lethality groups; however, the interaction between birth weight and gestational age significantly increased the risk of mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Through the use of statewide, population-based birth defects surveillance data, a disparity in infant mortality has been identified in a specific subset of the population that could be investigated further and targeted for prevention activities.
Bol
Kirk A
KA
Colorado Responds to Children With Special Needs, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Denver 80246, USA. kirk.bol@state.co.us
Rickard
Russel S
RS
Kirby
Russell S
RS
D044383:Black People; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003120:Colorado / Q000453:epidemiology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000145:classification / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American