[Surveillance of congenital malformations in Italy: an investigation in the province of Siracusa].

OBJECTIVE

The study describes briefly the current situation of the surveillance of congenital anomalies in Italy and gives an insight into the province of Siracusa in order to better characterise health status of populations residing in an area at high environmental risk.

PARTICIPANTS

The authors, who coordinate the Italian registries of congenital malformations, have collaborated with the Eastern Sicily Registry of congenital malformations (ISMAC) and the registry of diseases of the Siracusa province.

DESIGN AND

SETTING

Data collected by the ISMAC Registry were used to calculate the prevalence of malformed newborns, resident in the municipalities of the province of Siracusa between 1991-2000. This prevalence was compared to that observed in the rest of the Siracusa province (RSP), in the whole area covered by the ISMAC Registry (ESR) and to the mean prevalence at birth of the North-East, Emilia Romagna, Toscana and Campania Registries (IR). Comparisons were made for all malformations and for groups of malformations (with the exclusion of groups with a 10 year frequence <10 cases in the province of Siracusa). In addition, heterogeneity among the municipalities of the province and temporal trends were statistically tested.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total, groups and specific congenital malformations.

RESULTS

Results were statistically borderline considering all malformations when the Priolo-Augusta-Melilli area was compared to IR and ESR (standardized morbidity ratio SMR(IR)=1.1, SMR(ESR)=1.2) and statistically significant when compared to RSP (prevalences ratio PR(RSP)=1.9). Significant excesses resulted in this area also for hypospadias (SMR(IR)=1.9, SMR(ESR)=2.4, PR(RSP)=2.5) and anomalies of the digestive system (SMR(IR)=2.1, SMR(ESR)=1.9, PR(RSP)=2.6).

CONCLUSION

Following these results a case-control study on malformations observed in excess has been activated and a protocol for the surveillance of sensitive diseases in areas at environmental risk is being elaborated.