Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence, mortality, regional and sex distribution of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Finland.
METHODS: Data for this population-based study were collected from 1987 to 2018 from the national health and social welfare registers.
RESULTS: There were in total 1634 cases of NTDs, of which 511 were live births, 72 pregnancies ended in stillbirth and 1051 were terminations of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly (TOPFA). The total prevalence of NTDs was 8.6 per 10 000 births and it increased slightly annually (OR 1.008; 95% CI: 1.002, 1.013) during the 32-year study period. The birth prevalence of NTDs decreased (OR 0.979; 95% CI: 0.970, 0.987), but the prevalence of TOPFA increased annually (OR 1.024; 95% CI 1.017, 1.031). The perinatal mortality of NTD children was 260.7 per 1000 births and the infant mortality was 184.0 per 1000 live births, whereas these measures in the general population were 4.6 per 1000 births and 3.3 per 1000 live births, respectively. There was no difference in the NTD prevalence between males and females (P-value 0.77). The total prevalence of NTDs varied from 7.1 to 9.4 per 10 000 births in Finland by region.
CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of NTDs are preventable with an adequate folic acid supplementation, the total prevalence increased in Finland during the study period when folic acid supplementation was mainly recommended to high-risk families and to women with folic acid deficiency. NTDs remain an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality in Finland.
METHODS: Data for this population-based study were collected from 1987 to 2018 from the national health and social welfare registers.
RESULTS: There were in total 1634 cases of NTDs, of which 511 were live births, 72 pregnancies ended in stillbirth and 1051 were terminations of pregnancy due to fetal anomaly (TOPFA). The total prevalence of NTDs was 8.6 per 10 000 births and it increased slightly annually (OR 1.008; 95% CI: 1.002, 1.013) during the 32-year study period. The birth prevalence of NTDs decreased (OR 0.979; 95% CI: 0.970, 0.987), but the prevalence of TOPFA increased annually (OR 1.024; 95% CI 1.017, 1.031). The perinatal mortality of NTD children was 260.7 per 1000 births and the infant mortality was 184.0 per 1000 live births, whereas these measures in the general population were 4.6 per 1000 births and 3.3 per 1000 live births, respectively. There was no difference in the NTD prevalence between males and females (P-value 0.77). The total prevalence of NTDs varied from 7.1 to 9.4 per 10 000 births in Finland by region.
CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of NTDs are preventable with an adequate folic acid supplementation, the total prevalence increased in Finland during the study period when folic acid supplementation was mainly recommended to high-risk families and to women with folic acid deficiency. NTDs remain an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality in Finland.
摘要：
背景：我们的目的是评估患病率，死亡率,芬兰神经管缺陷(NTDs)的区域和性别分布。
方法：这项基于人群的研究的数据是从1987年至2018年从国家卫生和社会福利登记册中收集的。
结果：总共有1634例NTDs，其中511名是活产，72例妊娠以死产结束，1051例是由于胎儿异常（TOPFA）而终止妊娠。在32年的研究期间，NTDs的总患病率为每10000名出生8.6名，并且每年略有增加（OR1.008；95％CI：1.002，1.013）。NTDs的出生患病率降低(OR0.979;95%CI:0.970,0.987),但TOPFA的患病率逐年增加(OR1.024;95%CI1.017,1.031)。NTD儿童的围产期死亡率为每1000名婴儿260.7人,婴儿死亡率为每1000名活产184.0人,而在一般人口中，这些措施是每1000名婴儿4.6名和每1000名活产3.3名，分别。男性和女性的NTD患病率没有差异（P值0.77）。在芬兰，按地区划分，NTD的总患病率为每10000名婴儿7.1至9.4。
结论：尽管大多数NTDs可以通过补充足够的叶酸来预防，在研究期间,芬兰的总患病率增加,主要推荐高危家庭和叶酸缺乏女性补充叶酸.NTDs仍然是芬兰婴儿发病和死亡的重要原因。
方法：这项基于人群的研究的数据是从1987年至2018年从国家卫生和社会福利登记册中收集的。
结果：总共有1634例NTDs，其中511名是活产，72例妊娠以死产结束，1051例是由于胎儿异常（TOPFA）而终止妊娠。在32年的研究期间，NTDs的总患病率为每10000名出生8.6名，并且每年略有增加（OR1.008；95％CI：1.002，1.013）。NTDs的出生患病率降低(OR0.979;95%CI:0.970,0.987),但TOPFA的患病率逐年增加(OR1.024;95%CI1.017,1.031)。NTD儿童的围产期死亡率为每1000名婴儿260.7人,婴儿死亡率为每1000名活产184.0人,而在一般人口中，这些措施是每1000名婴儿4.6名和每1000名活产3.3名，分别。男性和女性的NTD患病率没有差异（P值0.77）。在芬兰，按地区划分，NTD的总患病率为每10000名婴儿7.1至9.4。
结论：尽管大多数NTDs可以通过补充足够的叶酸来预防，在研究期间,芬兰的总患病率增加,主要推荐高危家庭和叶酸缺乏女性补充叶酸.NTDs仍然是芬兰婴儿发病和死亡的重要原因。
