Maternal factors in the origin of isolated oesophageal atresia: A population-based case-control study

Abstract

Background: In most patients affected by isolated oesophageal atresia (IOA) the etiology is largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze potential risk factors in mothers.

Methods: The study samples included 221 cases with IOA, 356 matched and 38,151 population controls without any defect in the population-based dataset of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980 to 1996. Only those exposures were evaluated that were medically recorded in prenatal maternity logbooks during the critical period of IOA.

Results: The findings of this case-control study suggested that the mothers of cases with IOA had a higher proportion of first delivery and lower socioeconomic status. Acute respiratory diseases (odds ratio [OR] 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.8, 1.8-8.1) and essential hypertension treated with nifedipine (OR 95% CI, 3.8, 1.7-8.7) in the mothers of cases associated with a higher risk for IOA in their children.

Conclusion: First delivery, lower socioeconomic status, acute respiratory diseases and essential hypertension treated with nifedipine in the mothers may associate with a higher risk for IOA in their children.

Keywords: acute respiratory diseases; essential hypertension; first delivery; nifedipine; oesophageal atresia; population based case-control study.