Ethnic differences in congenital malformations

Abstract

Perinatal deaths and major lethal and non-lethal congenital malformations occurring in this hospital from 1979-82 inclusive were related to the ethnic group of the 15 438 mothers. The highest crude perinatal mortality rates occurred in Indian and Pakistani populations (18-3 per 1000 and 24-1 per 1000 respectively). The highest incidence of congenital abnormality also occurred in these groups (13-3 per 1000 and 12*8 per 1000 respectively), but there was considerable variation in the distribution of different malformations.