Global, regional, and national epidemiology of congenital birth defects in children from 1990 to 2021: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

This 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.

METHODS

This 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.

RESULTS

In 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).

CONCLUSIONS

Congenital 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.