title: Risk factors for congenital hypothyroidism in Egypt: results of a population case-control study (2003-2010).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the prevention of the neuropsychological consequences of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) through the use of replacement therapy represents an important public health success, knowledge about the modifiable risk factors could reduce the number of infants affected by this disease. This study was carried out to identify risk factors for CH at Fayoum Governorate, Egypt.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a population-based case-control study, which started in 2003 and was carried out for 8 years through Fayoum center of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population screening program for CH.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a population-based case-control study carried out by using national project for CH. One control was enrolled for each new CH infant; 320 cases and 320 controls were enrolled in 8 years. Maternal and neonatal influences were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A statistically significant association of CH was observed with birth defects, female gender, gestational age > 40 weeks, and gestational diabetes. An increased risk for CH was detected in twins by a multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest a multifactorial origin of CH in which genetic (high frequency of additional malformations) and environmental factors (especially maternal diabetes) play a role in the development of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Fayoum Faculty of Medicine,, Department of Pediatrics, Fayoum, Egypt. abdelmoktader2006@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmed Mahmoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdelmoktader
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014427:Twins; D055815:Young Adult