What proportion of congenital abnormalities can be prevented?

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the proportion of preventable congenital abnormalities in Hungary.

DESIGN

Analysis of available Hungarian data-bases and of the effectiveness of primary, secondary, and tertiary preventive methods.

SETTING

Databases of ad hoc epidemiological studies and of the Hungarian congenital abnormality registry.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence at birth and prevalence after prevention in 73 congenital abnormality types or groups.

RESULTS

Preventive methods are available for 51 (70%) of the 73 congenital abnormality types or groups evaluated. The birth prevalence of all congenital abnormalities could be reduced from 65 to 26 per 1000; thus 39 per 1000 (60%) are preventable. Without congenital dislocation of the hip, which is unusually common in Hungary, the preventable proportion of congenital abnormalities is 52%.

CONCLUSION

Many congenital abnormalities can be prevented, but as they do not represent a single pathological category there is no single strategy for their prevention.