Clinical and Demographical Characteristics of Cleft Lip and/or Palate in the Northwest of Iran: An Analysis of 1500 Patients.

OBJECTIVE

Orofacial clefts (OFCs) can occur as an isolated defect or as a manifestation of other syndromes. The current study aimed to evaluate demographic characteristics and distribution of different types of accompanying anomalies for OFCs in the northwest of Iran.

DESIGN

A retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Tertiary pediatric hospital.

PATIENTS AND

PARTICIPANTS

This study was conducted on 1500 cleft lip and/or palate patients born between July 2010 and June 2020 in the northwest of Iran.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Demographic and clinical characteristics of the children with OFCs including familial history, accompanying anomalies and syndromes, maternal passive smoking, mothers' and fathers' age, consanguineous marriage, and birth order.

RESULTS

Among 1500 patients, 441 had cleft lip, 615 had cleft palate, and 444 had cleft lip and palate. The positive family history of OFCs was found to be 20.9% to 25.4% depending on the cleft type. Accompanying anomalies were identified in 29.8% of cases. Cardiac, facial, and ear abnormalities were the most common types. Also, 2.9% were identified with syndromes and sequences. These included Pierre Robin Sequence, Velo-cardio-facial syndrome, and Down syndrome most frequently.

CONCLUSION

These findings may provide references for appropriate resources to establish and direct counseling and primary preventive projects in the northwest of Iran.