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. 2009 Jun 27:35:18.
doi: 10.1186/1824-7288-35-18.

Prevalence of hypospadias in Italy according to severity, gestational age and birthweight: an epidemiological study

Paolo Ghirri  1 , Rosa T Scaramuzzo, Silvano Bertelloni, Daniela Pardi, Amerigo Celandroni, Guido Cocchi, Roberto Danieli, Luisa De Santis, Maria C Di Stefano, Orietta Gerola, Mario Giuffrè, Giuseppe S Gragnani, Cinzia Magnani, Cristiano Meossi, Ilaria Merusi, Giuseppe Sabatino, Stefano Tumini, Giovanni Corsello, Antonio Boldrini
Affiliations

Prevalence of hypospadias in Italy according to severity, gestational age and birthweight: an epidemiological study

Paolo Ghirri et al. Ital J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Hypospadias is a congenital displacement of the urethral meatus in male newborns, being either an isolated defect at birth or a sign of sexual development disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence rate of hypospadias in different Districts of Italy, in order to make a comparison with other countries all over the world.

Methods: We reviewed all the newborns file records (years 2001-2004) in 15 Italian Hospitals.

Results: We found an overall hypospadias prevalence rate of 3.066 +/- 0.99 per 1000 live births (82.48% mild hypospadias, 17.52% moderate-severe). In newborns Small for Gestational Age (birthweight < 10(th )percentile) of any gestational age the prevalence rate of hypospadias was 6.25 per 1000 live births. Performing multivariate logistic regression analysis for different degrees of hypospadias according to severity, being born SGA remained the only risk factor for moderate-severe hypospadias (p = 0.00898) but not for mild forms (p > 0.1).

Conclusion: In our sample the prevalence of hypospadias results as high as reported in previous European and American studies (3-4 per 1000 live births). Pathogenesis of isolated hypospadias is multifactorial (genetic, endocrine and environmental factors): however, the prevalence rate of hypospadias is higher in infants born small for gestational age than in newborns with normal birth weight.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The figure shows all the hospitals included in the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The prevalence trend of hypospadias as we calculated in Italy in years 2001–2004.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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