Prevalence of pectus carinatum and pectus excavatum in students in the city of Manaus, Brazil.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of congenital anterior chest wall deformities in 11- to 14-year-old students.


METHODS
Students participating in the study were recruited from public schools in the city of Manaus, Brazil. The statistically significant sample (precision, 1%; 95% CI) comprised 1,332 students. Pectus deformities were identified by physical examination of the chest, and the individuals with one of these deformities completed a questionnaire regarding heredity and symptoms resulting from the chest abnormality.


RESULTS
The mean age of the participants was 11.7 years. The prevalence of pectus abnormalities was 1.95% (pectus excavatum: 1.275%; pectus carinatum: 0.675%). Of the 26 students with a pectus deformity, 17 (65.4%) had pectus excavatum, and 18 (69.2%) were male. Concomitant scoliosis was observed in 3 cases (11.5%). A family history of pectus was reported by 17 students (65.4%), and 17 (65.4%) reported chest pain, dyspnea or palpitations.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the prevalence of pectus deformities (1.95%) was lower than that reported in other studies conducted in Brazil (3.6-4.9%) but was higher than that reported in the literature (mean, 1%).
Westphal
Fernando Luiz
FL
Universidade Estadual do Amazonas, Manaus, AM, Brasil. f.l.westphal@uol.com.br
Lima
Luiz Carlos de
LC
Lima Neto
José Corrêia
JC
Chaves
Altair Rodrigues
AR
Santos Júnior
Vítor Lazarini dos
VL
Ferreira
Brena Luize Cunha
BL
D000293:Adolescent; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009139:Musculoskeletal Abnormalities / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013334:Students; D035441:Thoracic Wall / Q000002:abnormalities*