Background: The most common congenital malformations are Neural tubedefects (NTDs) occurring in 0.6 per 1,000 live births in the United States, and almost 4000pregnancies are recorded of babies with neural tube defects, among them anencephalyand Spina bifida are the most common and their annual incidence is 2,500 to 3,000 births inthe United States. The etiology of NTDs is still an enigma, however, in the past few decadesvaluable advances has been made in understanding the causation and measures to preventNTDs and many risk factors are indentified which are associated with it. Objectives: This studywas designed to determine the risk factors and their association with neural tube defects. StudyDesign: Case control study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at unit111 Lady Willingdon Hospital Lahore and duration was one year from 1.1.2016 to 31.12.2016.Methodology: A total of 120 mothers were included in the study, of which 30 were having ofbabies delivered with NTDs, matched with 90 mothers delivered babies without NTDs (Threecontrols for each NTD case). Informations were collected on special Performa, data was analyzedon SPSS version 20. Results: Majority of the patients in both groups were found between 31-40 years of age, 43.33 %( n13) in patients with NTD group and 56.67 %( n51) in controls whileonly 16.67% (n5) in NTD and 17.78 % (n16) were found between 21-30 years. The mean agewas recorded as 33.06+1.21 and 32.12+ 0.89 respectively. Regarding parity, 23.33% (n7) werefound between P1-2, 26.67% (n11) were P2-3 while 40% (n12) with Parity >4 in the NTD group,while 21.11% (n19) were p1-2, 37.77% (n 34) with P 3-4 and 41.12% (n37) were P >4 in controlgroup. 86.67% (n 26) were found with poor economic status and 13.33% (n4) were found withrich status in NTDs, while 18.89% (n17) were found with poor and 81.11% (n73) with rich statusin control group. Distribution of fetuses according to their gender revealed that 20% (n6) weremales, and 80% (n24) were females in NTDs while 47.77 %( n43) were found males and 52.23%(n47) were females in controls. Regarding family history 80% (n24) with positive history of NTDsin patients of NTD group and 20% (n6) with no history while 4.44% (n4) had positive history and95.56% (n86) had no familial history of NTD in control cases. About previous history of NTDs,93.33% (n28) were found with positive previous history of NTDs and only 6.67% (n2)with noprevious history of NTDs in NTD group, while only 5.56% (n5) were found with positive previoushistory of NTDs and 94.44%(n85) with no previous history in controls. Conclusions: Poor socioeconomic status, family history and previous history of a baby with Neural tube defects are themajor risk factors.
Reassessing folic acid consumption patterns in the United States (1999–2004): potential effect on neural tube defects and overexposure to folate
