title: In-hospital neonatal mortality and the role of consanguinity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Consanguinity which increases the risk of genetic disorders has been implicated at times in infant mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the association between consanguinity and in-hospital mortality in newborns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data was collected prospectively on all births from 26 hospitals in Lebanon from January 2004 to December 2008 and admitted to the National Collaborative Perinatal Neonatal Network. Secondary analysis was done on 65,402 singletons, after exclusion of stillbirths, infants of multiple gestation and infants of second cousin progeny.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In-hospital mortality was 6.7 per 1000 live births (439/65,402). The rate of first cousin marriage was 9.9%. Consanguinity was significantly associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8, 3.1); consanguinity remained a significant predictor of mortality (odds ratio 1.8 [95% CI: 1.2, 2.9]) after adjusting for maternal age and education, crowding index, history of abortion, prenatal care, mode of delivery, gender, birthweight and apgar score at 5 minutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This association of consanguinity with in-hospital mortality points to potential genetic factors leading to this increased risk. Designing public health interventions, including raising the awareness and taking into consideration such risks in neonatal mortality studies are indicated.
authors.affiliation: Pediatrics, American University of Beirut Medical Center Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Lama
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Charafeddine
authors.forename: Farah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ammous
authors.forename: Loulou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobeissi
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: De Ver Dye
authors.forename: Maroun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matar
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Faddous Khalife
authors.forename: Khalid
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yunis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003241:Consanguinity; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007861:Lebanon; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult