Birth Defects
Date Posted: 07/03/2008
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A birth defect is defined as any defect present in a baby at birth, irrespective of whether the defect is caused by a genetic factor (chromosomal anomaly or inherited defect) or by prenatal events that are not genetic (congenital anomaly). See Additional Information for further definitions.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment collects data through a statewide public health program for monitoring and preventing birth defects and developmental disabilities. The dataset contains information on over 90 birth defects in Colorado. The data displayed here are expressed as rates per 10,000 live births over a five year period.
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Birth Defects Statistics
What these data tell us:
The most prevalent birth defects among Larimer County infants included heart defects (426), genital/urinary defects (322), and muscular/skeletal defects (227). Nationally, about 3% of births involve babies with a birth defect. Heart defects make up about 25-33% of all birth defects that occur nationally (Centers for Disease Control).
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Birth Defects Statistics
What these data tell us:
Although Colorado has a higher rate than Larimer County of infants with 'Specific Delays in Development', the difference is not statistically significant. There were 26 births in Larimer County and 615 births in Colorado with 'Specific Delays in Development'. This diagnosis was among the most frequent types of birth defects found in Larimer County from 2002 through 2006. 'Specific Delays in Development' include disorders such as specific reading, arithmetic or other specific learning difficulties, developmental speech or language disorders, and coordination disorders.
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment: Birth Defects Statistics
What these data tell us:
The number of infants born with chromosomal anomalies (genetic defects) fluctuated each year from 2002 to 2006. Chromosomal anomalies include Down syndrome and additional chromosomal defects resulting in mental retardation and physical abnormalities. The five year rates above show that Larimer County rates for chromosomal anomalies are higher than the overall rates for Colorado. One reason may be because the percentage of women in Larimer County having children over age 30 is slightly higher than Colorado, a factor that increases the chance of having anomalies. From 2002 to 2006, 30 female infants (36 per 10,000) and 27 males (30.6 per 10,000) were born with chromosomal defects in Larimer County.What this chart shows: Blindness/Low Vision and Hearing Loss among Larimer County Infants, 2002-2006
*Data for blindness/low vision do not exist for Larimer County male or female infants.
Data Source: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment;
What these data tell us:
From 2002 to 2006, Larimer County had lower rates than Colorado of male and female infants born with hearing loss. Colorado had relatively low rates of blindness/low vision, while data for infants in Larimer County with blindness/low vision did not exist.Birth defects may involve many different organs including the brain, heart, lungs, liver, bones, and intestinal tract. These defects can occur for varied reasons including inherited (genetic) conditions, toxic exposure of the fetus (i.e., alcohol), birth injury, and in many cases the reasons are unknown. All parents are at risk of having a baby with a birth defect, regardless of age, race, income, or residence.
Birth defects are now the leading cause of infant mortality (death) in the United States. Infants born with birth defects have increased risks of long-term illnesses and disabilities. Although the cause of most birth defects is unknown, it has been shown that Folic Acid, a B vitamin, helps prevent some birth defects.
On Compass -
- Adult Alcohol Use
- Adult Tobacco Use
- Disability - Demographics
- Enrollment - Special Education
- Infant Mortality
- Low Birth Weight Babies
- Perinatal Alcohol and Tobacco Use
- Prenatal Care
- Teen Fertility & Birth Rates
Outside Compass -
- Specific details regarding the Birth Defects Colorado Health Information Dataset.
- Detailed information about chromosomal genetic disorders can be found at websites for: the Support Organization for Trisomy 18, 13 and Related Disorders (S.O.F.T.) and the National Association for Down Syndrome.
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Program: Information about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome through the Colorado Area Health Education Center.
- Centers for Disease Control:
- Birth Defects
- Spina Bifida Occurrence and Folic Acid Consumption
- Reduce the occurrence of spina bifida and other neural tube defects (NTDs).
- (Developmental) Increase the proportion of newborns who are screened for hearing loss by age 1 month, have audiologic evaluation by age 3 months, and are enrolled in appropriate intervention services by age 6 months.
- Reduce the occurrence of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
- Increase the number of States and the District of Columbia that have a system for recording and referring infants and children with cleft lips, cleft palates, and other craniofacial anomalies to craniofacial anomaly rehabilitative teams.
Standards or Targets:
Healthy People 2010 has specific objectives to reduce the incidence of various birth defects among infants nationwide. Some objectives include:
Data Tables:
Broad Categories of Birth Defects among Larimer County Infants
(Rate per 10,000 Live Births), 2002 to 2006
|
Defect Category |
Number |
Rate |
|
Infections near birth |
9 |
5.2 |
|
Eye anomalies |
25 |
14.6 |
|
Other Disabilities |
30 |
17.5 |
|
Genetic defects |
32 |
18.7 |
|
Lung anomalies |
47 |
27.4 |
|
Sensory impairments |
47 |
27.4 |
|
Mouth, Facial |
48 |
28.0 |
|
Central Nervous System |
53 |
30.9 |
|
Stomach, Intestinal |
75 |
43.7 |
|
Muscular, Skeletal |
227 |
132.3 |
|
Genital, Urinary |
322 |
187.7 |
|
Heart anomalies |
426 |
248.3 |
Specific Types of Birth Defects and Disabilities - Larimer County, 2002 to 2006
|
Birth Defect Type |
Colorado |
Larimer County |
||
|
N |
Rate |
N |
Rate |
|
|
Mental Retardation |
42 |
1.2 |
2 |
1.2 |
|
Leg/Foot Limb Reduction |
53 |
1.5 |
2 |
1.2 |
|
Cystic Fibrosis |
90 |
2.6 |
8 |
4.7 |
|
Spina Bifida without Anencephalus |
99 |
2.9 |
5 |
2.9 |
|
Arm/Hand Limb Reduction |
104 |
3.0 |
12 |
7.0 |
|
Total Anencephalus and Spina Bifida |
118 |
3.4 |
8 |
4.7 |
|
Infantile Cerebral Palsy |
125 |
3.6 |
8 |
4.7 |
|
Cleft Palate without Cleft Lip |
308 |
8.9 |
26 |
15.2 |
|
Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate |
392 |
11.3 |
24 |
14.0 |
|
Specific Delays in Development |
615 |
17.8 |
26 |
15.2 |
Infants Born with Chromosomal Defects - Colorado and Larimer County, 2002 to 2006
|
2002-2006 |
Colorado |
Larimer County |
||||
|
Births with Defects |
Total Live Births |
Rate |
Births with Defects |
Total Live Births |
Rate |
|
|
All |
970 |
345,858 |
28.0 |
57 |
17156 |
33.2 |
|
Female |
453 |
168,410 |
26.9 |
30 |
8,324 |
36.0 |
|
Male |
515 |
177,446 |
29.0 |
27 |
8,832 |
30.6 |
Infant Blindness/Low Vision and Hearing Loss - Larimer County, 2002 to 2006
|
2002-2006 |
Blindness and Low Vision |
Hearing Loss |
||||||
|
Colorado |
Larimer County |
Colorado |
Larimer County |
|||||
|
Rate |
Number |
Rate |
Number |
Rate |
Number |
Rate |
Number |
|
|
Female |
1.1 |
19 |
* |
* |
27.7 |
467 |
19.2 |
16 |
|
Male |
1.7 |
31 |
* |
* |
39.8 |
707 |
35.1 |
31 |
*No data exists