Congenital Anomalies in Canada

Description

Congenital anomalies, also known as birth defects, congenital disorders or congenital malformations, are usually structural or functional in nature. They are identified prenatally, at birth, or sometimes may only be detected later in life. Approximately 50% of all congenital anomalies cannot be linked to a specific cause; however there are some known risk factors which include genetics and environmental contaminants.

Congenital anomalies are the leading cause of infant mortality, resulting in significant long term impacts on individuals, families and health-care systems. This makes them an important perinatal health issue. Public health strategies such as folic acid fortification and supplementation have proven useful in Canada to prevent neural tube defects. Maintaining national surveillance data is a core role of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and crucial in preventing and controlling congenital anomalies and other adverse perinatal outcomes (1). It serves to provide timely identification of epidemiological trends, estimate the burden of congenital anomalies, shed light on potential risk factors and guide research.

The Congenital Anomalies data tool was developed by the Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System (CCASS) to present prevalence rates, temporal trends and certain factors associated with congenital anomalies in Canada, using data from the Discharge Abstract Database of the Canadian Institute for Health Information as well as data from the Quebec congenital anomalies program, which utilises the Maintenance et exploitation des données pour l'étude de la clientèle hospitalière (MED-ÉCHO). This resource is a collaborative effort between the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System’s External Advisory Committee and the Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance Provincial and Territorial Network.

The data presented here provides an overview of 38 selected congenital anomalies (grouped into 12 categories) in Canada from 2006 to 2020 using a follow-up period of one year after birth, with the exception of data from Quebec which includes data from 2008 to 2020. This updated version of the data tool has been modified from previous versions and the data is presented by ‘confirmed’ and ‘suspected’ status where possible. Suspected cases are identified by a prefix in the database which indicates that there may be some uncertainty in the diagnosis. Confirmed cases do not include this prefix and are assumed to be established diagnoses.

The table below provides a summary of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Canada (ICD-10-CA) codes used for each anomaly/group of anomalies. Data with small cells (under 5) have either been suppressed or combined. Additional information on specific conditions can be requested through CCASS.

Reference

1. Congenital Anomalies in Canada 2013. A Perinatal Heath Surveillance Report. Public Health Agency of Canada. Ottawa 2013.

Data Map