Esophageal atresia: Data from a national cohort

PurposeA prospective national register was established in 2008 to record all new cases of live-birth newborns with esophageal atresia (EA). This epidemiological survey was recommended as part of a national rare diseases plan.MethodsAll 38 national centers treating EA participated by completing for each patient at first discharge a questionnaire validated by a national committee of experts. Data were centralized by the national reference center for esophageal anomalies. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed, with P-values of less than 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results of the 2008–2009 data collection are presented in this report.ResultsThree hundred seven new living cases of EA were recorded between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2009. The male/female sex ratio was 1.3, and the live-birth prevalence of EA was 1.8 per 10,000 births. Major characteristics were comparable to those reported in the literature. Survival was 95%, and no correlation with caseload was noted.ConclusionsEpidemiologic surveys of congenital anomalies such as EA, which is a rare disease, provide valuable data for public health authorities and fulfill one important mission of reference centers. When compared with previous epidemiological data, this national population-based registry suggests that the incidence of EA remains stable.