Increasing prevalence of gastroschisis in Utah.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies provide conflicting information about gastroschisis prevalence trends. The authors proposed that prevalence of gastroschisis in live births has increased in Utah and that characteristics of these infants would provide clinically useful information about treatment and outcomes.


METHODS
Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC) is the sole pediatric surgical referral hospital for Utah. The authors used both pediatric surgical and neonatal databases to identify gastroschisis cases at PCMC from 1971 through 2002. Only infants whose mothers had a primary residence in Utah were included. Individual charts were reviewed for infant characteristics for cases from 1998 through 2002. Utah Vital Statistics Reports were used to determine live birth rates and general infant and maternal characteristics.


RESULTS
Gastroschisis prevalence increased from 0.36 to 3.92 cases per 10,000 live births over 31 years (P < .001). Young maternal age, primigravida status, and tobacco use were associated risk factors. Using the time required to achieve full enteric feedings at targeted volume and caloric density as a measurement of outcome, we found no association between delivery mode or surgical closure type (primary or secondary) and time to full feedings. Higher birth weight was associated with decreased time to full feedings (P = .03).


CONCLUSIONS
Gastroschisis prevalence has increased 10-fold over the past 3 decades in Utah.
Hougland
Kristen T
KT
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA. kristen_hougland@pediatrix.com
Hanna
Angela M
AM
Meyers
Rebecka
R
Null
Donald
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000196:embryology / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D050498:Live Birth / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008423:Maternal Age; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology