Aim
To assess the prevalence of cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) and associated variables in neonates admitted to neonatal intensive care units (ICU).
Methods
Medical charts for neonates born and admitted to the ICU between 2012 and 2018 were reviewed. Obstetric and neonatal variables were collected by a trained researcher. In the case group, all neonates with CL/P were included. The control group was formed by matching sex, prematurity and month of birth using random number generation. Neonates with congenital malformations were excluded from the control group. Adjusted logistic regression was used (p<0.05).
Results
The prevalence of CL/P was 0.43% (n=15). Five cases were excluded, as pairing was not possible. Twenty neonates were included in the control group. In the final multivariate model, CL/P was only associated with increased maternal age. For each year of increase in maternal age, neonates had a 35.2% higher chance of presenting CL/P (95% confidence interval: 1.021–1.792).
Conclusions
Higher maternal age was associated with higher occurrence of CL/P in neonates admitted to the ICU. No other neonatal or maternal independent variables were associated with CL/P. Due to missing data, interpretation of study results must be approached with caution.
Cleft palate; Congenital abnormalities; Infant, newborn; Intensive care, neonatal
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