Efecto de la fortificación de la harina con ácido fólico sobre la evolución de las tasas de prevalencia al nacimiento de malformaciones congénitas en los hospitales chilenos del ECLAMC / Effects of folic acid fortification in the rates of malformations at birth in Chile

Background: The effects of folic acid fortification on neural tube defects is well known. Other reports show a beneficial effect of the fortification on orofacial clefts, urinary malformations and defects caused by limb reduction. Aim: To determine the changes in prevalence of congenital malformations after the start of flour folic acid fortification in Chile. Material and methods: The rates of 22 malformations occurring in the maternity of the University of Chile Clinical Hospital and other Chilean hospitals participating in the Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC) were compared before and after the start of flour folic acid fortification. Results: After the start of folic acid fortification a significant reduction in the rates of anencephalia, spina bifida and diaphragmatic hernia, was observed. The rates of all other malformations remained stable or increased. The rates of all malformations at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital had a steady increase until 2005 and were significantly higher than in the rest of hospitals participating in ECLAMC. Conclusions: Folic acid fortification was associated with an expected reduction in rates of spina bifida and anencephalia and an unexpected reduction in the rates of diaphragmatic hernia.

Mortalidad y factores de riesgo asociados a depresión cardio-respiratoria prolongada al nacer / Mortality and associated factors of risk to prolonged cardiorespiratory depression when being born

Existe mayor mortalidad y morbilidad entre los recién nacidos (RN) que mantienen una depresión cardiorrespiratoria a los cinco minutos de vida a pesar de las maniobras de reanimación. Objetivos: individualizar los factores de riesgo que se asocian a esta condición. Pacientes y método: se estudian los recién nacidos con Apgar menor o igual a tres en el período de enero 2003 a mayo del 2004. Se separan en dos subgrupos. Aquellos que se recuperan con maniobras de reanimación y aquellos RN que mantienen la depresión cardiorrespiratoria a los cinco minutos . Las variables estudiadas fueron peso de nacimiento, edad gestacional (EG) en semanas, la relación entre EG y peso, edad materna, multiparidad, morbilidad materna, factores fetales y ovulares. Resultados. De un total de 1705 RN, 64 RN presentan Apgar menor o igual a tres al minuto de vida. 22 RN ( 34,4 por ciento) no mejoran con las maniobras se reanimación a los 5 minutos. De las variables estudiadas son estadísticamente significativas para mantener una depresión severa al nacer, el extremo bajo peso de nacimiento, edad gestacional baja y la condición de ser pequeño para la edad gestacional (PEG). La mortalidad en este grupo es significativamentemayor. Conclusión Los RN que mantienen depresión a los cinco minutos tienen un peso de nacimiento y EG significativamente menor que aquellos que se recuperan con las maniobras de reanimación y tienen mortalidad significativamente mas alta.

A high rate of morbidity and mortality is present among newborns that maintain a cardiorespiratorydepression at five minutes of life in spite of resuscitation maneuvers. Therefore, it is important to know whichrisk factors are associated with this condition. In the time period between January 1, 2003 and May 1, 2004 there was a total of 1,705 alive newborns. Of these 64 (3,75 percent)had an Apgar score of three or less at a minute of life. Among these there were 22 newborns (34,4 percent) that did not improve with resuscitation maneuvers at 5 minutes of life. Amongst the studiedfactors stand out that newborns that presented prolonged depression had birth weight and gestational age significantly lower than those who recover with resuscitation maneuvers. The newborns with cardiorespiratory depression at 5 minutes of life havealmost twice the mortality rate of those born depressed but that improve before 5 minutes of life.

Malformaciones congénicas del sistema digestivo: maternidad Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile: período 1991-2001 / Frequency of digestive system congenital malformations detected at the University of Chile hospital in the period 1991-2001

There were 26,617 births attended at the University of Chile Clinical Hospital, of which 0.63 percent were stillborn. A frequency of malformations of 7.2 per born alive and of 22.1 per stillborn was detected in this population. Aim: To report the frequency of digestive system congenital malformations in this population. Material and methods: Analysis of data from the births that occurred at the University of Chile Hospital, that was gathered using codified form for the Latin American Collaborative Study for Congenital Malformations. Results: Ninety seven digestive congenital malformations were detected, with a rate of 26.4 per 10,000 born alive and 12.2 per 10,000 stillborn. Diaphragmatic hernia was the most frequent malformation found, followed by imperforated anus, onphalocele and esophageal atresia. There was a secular increase in the frequency of these malformations. Conclusions: The frequency of digestive system malformations is higher than in the rest of hospitals participating in the Latin American Collaborative Study for Congenital Malformations