Epidemiology of gastroschisis in metropolitan Atlanta, 1968 through 2000.
BACKGROUND
An increase in the rate of gastroschisis has been documented by birth defects surveillance systems in the United States and in other countries. This study sought to evaluate historical trends in the rate of gastroschisis in Atlanta, Georgia, and to describe the epidemiology of gastroschisis over 33 years.


METHODS
Gastroschisis cases were identified through the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program (MACDP) from 1968 through 2000. Poisson regression techniques were used to evaluate trends over time. Data on covariates were compared for three maternal age groups (< or =19, 20-24, and > or =25 years).


RESULTS
From 1968 through 1975, the rate of gastroschisis was stable at 0.8 per 10,000 births. After 1975, the rate of gastroschisis was 2.3 per 10,000 births with no significant increase observed from 1976 through 2000. The rate of gastroschisis was six times higher among teenage mothers compared with mothers > or =25 years of age. Affected infants born to teenage mothers were less likely to be born to Black mothers compared to White mothers (rate ratio [RR], 0.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.2-0.6). This was also true for mothers 20-24 years of age (RR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.3-0.8) but not for mothers 25 years of age or older (RR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-2.7).


CONCLUSIONS
An increase in the rate of gastroschisis was observed in the mid-1970s, but no temporal trend has been observed since that time. In light of recent reports of an increasing prevalence of gastroschisis in the United States, continued monitoring of this birth defect is warranted.
Williams
Laura J
LJ
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Kucik
James E
JE
Alverson
Clinton J
CJ
Olney
Richard S
RS
Correa
Adolfo
A
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044465:White People