ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025
Global, regional, and national epidemiology of congenital birth defects in children from 1990 to 2021: a cross-sectional study.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed.
- Uncovering the hidden burden of congenital anomalies in Ecuador: a national integrated analysis of hospital discharges, mortality records, and live birth statistics (2012-2024).Journal of epidemiology and global health · 2026Article
- Human stem cell-based embryo models: innovation, ethics, and policy.Human reproduction (Oxford, England) · 2026Article
- Congenital abnormalities in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: a scoping review.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Prenatal Whole-Genome Sequencing for Fetal Anomalies: Diagnostic Performance, Challenges, and Clinical Implications.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
- Mortality amongst European children with congenital anomalies: Associations with socio-economic status in the EUROLINKCAT cohort.PloS one · 2026Observational
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Abstract
backgroundThis aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life year trends of congenital birth defects in children, including the causes of related burdens.
methodsThis cross-sectional study used the 2021 Global Burden of Disease data from 204 countries and regions and included children aged 0-14 (from 1990 to 2021) years with congenital birth defects. The prevalence, all-cause and specific-cause mortality, disability-adjusted life years, and corresponding estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) of congenital birth defect burden rates in children were measured. The identified trends were stratified by region, country, sex, and socio-demographic index.
resultsIn 2021, approximately 31.64 million children aged 0-14 worldwide were affected by congenital birth defects, marking a 6.68% increase since 1990. While the global prevalence slightly decreased (from 1,705 cases per 100,000 in 1990 to 1,573 cases per 100,000 in 2021), the number of deaths declined significantly, from 902,741 to 475,816. Mortality rates decreased from 51.91 to 23.65 per 100,000. Low socio-demographic regions had the highest mortality rate (43.33 per 100,000). Oceania (EAPC, 0.27) and Central Asia (EAPC, 0.24) had a considerable increase in prevalence rates. In 2021, Brunei Darussalam had the highest prevalence rate (2444.81 per 100,000), while Cook Islands had the lowest (1071.20 per 100,000).
conclusionsCongenital birth defects in children remain a global challenge, with the overall rates decreasing but increasing in some regions, particularly in those with low socio-demographic indices. A better understanding of the epidemiology of congenital birth defects in children may contribute to the optimization of health policies worldwide.
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