Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Discipline Track
Community/Public Health
Abstract Type
Research/Clinical
Abstract
Background: Orofacial clefts are a subset of birth defects that include cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) and cleft palate alone (CP). The treatment for orofacial clefts is surgical repair, ideally within the first six months of life. Their impacts on patients and families are various and substantial. Babies with orofacial clefts can have trouble with breastfeeding, speech, recurrent ear infections, and hearing loss as they age. Additionally, there is a significant economic burden, with the average repair costing nearly $20,000, not including the costs of medical devices, postoperative care, and rehabilitation. Additionally, children with orofacial clefts face a high incidence of teasing and ostracization by peers and even family.These issues can be especially difficult in medically underserved and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations such as the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (RGV). This paper explores trends in the prevalence of orofacial clefts in the RGV.
Methods: Aggregated data for orofacial clefts from 1997-2018 was acquired from the Texas Department of State Health Services Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch. All birth outcomes were included, but only definite diagnoses of orofacial clefts are included in this study. No distinction between syndromic and non-syndromic orofacial clefts was made. Populations studied included children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties) and non-border counties of Texas. Statistical analysis was conducted through two-tailed z-score analysis.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of CP between 1997-2018 was lower among children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV than in non-border counties, but not significantly (p=0.059). The prevalence of CP in the RGV was higher between 2008 and 2018 than in 1997 and 2007 but not significantly (p=-.105). Non-Border counties saw a similar non-statistically significant increase in CP prevalence (p=.177).
Overall, the prevalence of CLP between 1997-2008 was higher among children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV than in non-border counties, but not significantly (p=0.26). For the years 1997-2007, the prevalence of CLP was lower, but not significantly, in the RGV than in non-border counties (p=.258). For 2008-2018, the prevalence of CLP was significantly higher than in non-border counties (p=.007). The RGV saw a non-statistically significant increase in the prevalence of CLP between the decades of 1997-2007 and 2008-2018 (p=0.063). Contrarily, the non-border counties of Texas saw a non-statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of CLP between the decades of 1997-2007 and 2008-2018 (p=0.155).
Conclusion: From 2008-2018, children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV had a significantly higher prevalence of CLP than those born to Hispanic mothers in non-border counties in Texas. Additionally, the RGV saw an increase in the prevalence of CLP, while non-border counties saw a decrease. This is concerning, given that many parts of the RGV are designated as healthcare shortage areas. Travel to other cities of Texas for care can be difficult or impossible for undocumented and disadvantaged residents of the RGV. Investment is required to evaluate local reporting measures, meet healthcare demands, and increase affordable care for these conditions among RGV Residents.
Recommended Citation
Alsabawi, Yossef; Dadzie, Aaron I.; Torres, Tyler; Arellano, Elias; and Berry, Paul A., "The Increasing Prevalence of Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas" (2024). Research Symposium. 28.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/somrs/2024/talks/28
Included in
Clinical Epidemiology Commons, Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities Commons
The Increasing Prevalence of Cleft Lip with or without Cleft Palate in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas
Background: Orofacial clefts are a subset of birth defects that include cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) and cleft palate alone (CP). The treatment for orofacial clefts is surgical repair, ideally within the first six months of life. Their impacts on patients and families are various and substantial. Babies with orofacial clefts can have trouble with breastfeeding, speech, recurrent ear infections, and hearing loss as they age. Additionally, there is a significant economic burden, with the average repair costing nearly $20,000, not including the costs of medical devices, postoperative care, and rehabilitation. Additionally, children with orofacial clefts face a high incidence of teasing and ostracization by peers and even family.These issues can be especially difficult in medically underserved and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations such as the Rio Grande Valley of Texas (RGV). This paper explores trends in the prevalence of orofacial clefts in the RGV.
Methods: Aggregated data for orofacial clefts from 1997-2018 was acquired from the Texas Department of State Health Services Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch. All birth outcomes were included, but only definite diagnoses of orofacial clefts are included in this study. No distinction between syndromic and non-syndromic orofacial clefts was made. Populations studied included children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Willacy counties) and non-border counties of Texas. Statistical analysis was conducted through two-tailed z-score analysis.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of CP between 1997-2018 was lower among children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV than in non-border counties, but not significantly (p=0.059). The prevalence of CP in the RGV was higher between 2008 and 2018 than in 1997 and 2007 but not significantly (p=-.105). Non-Border counties saw a similar non-statistically significant increase in CP prevalence (p=.177).
Overall, the prevalence of CLP between 1997-2008 was higher among children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV than in non-border counties, but not significantly (p=0.26). For the years 1997-2007, the prevalence of CLP was lower, but not significantly, in the RGV than in non-border counties (p=.258). For 2008-2018, the prevalence of CLP was significantly higher than in non-border counties (p=.007). The RGV saw a non-statistically significant increase in the prevalence of CLP between the decades of 1997-2007 and 2008-2018 (p=0.063). Contrarily, the non-border counties of Texas saw a non-statistically significant decrease in the prevalence of CLP between the decades of 1997-2007 and 2008-2018 (p=0.155).
Conclusion: From 2008-2018, children born to Hispanic mothers in the RGV had a significantly higher prevalence of CLP than those born to Hispanic mothers in non-border counties in Texas. Additionally, the RGV saw an increase in the prevalence of CLP, while non-border counties saw a decrease. This is concerning, given that many parts of the RGV are designated as healthcare shortage areas. Travel to other cities of Texas for care can be difficult or impossible for undocumented and disadvantaged residents of the RGV. Investment is required to evaluate local reporting measures, meet healthcare demands, and increase affordable care for these conditions among RGV Residents.