A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on Infant Mortality among Children with Congenital Anomalies

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines infant mortality as the death of a child before reaching one year of age. The infant mortality rate (IMR) specifically refers to the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births within a given year. Congenital anomalies contribute significantly to health service expenditure worldwide although the costs may vary across low-middle-income and high-income countries. MethodsA systematic methodology was developed and published in PROSPERO as part of a wide-angled evidence synthesis comprising of multiple research questions surrounding the prevalence of CA related mortality. The systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following a pooled dataset was finalised. ResultsA total of 75 studies, encompassing 21,878 patients, reported on infant mortality associated with congenital anomalies. The pooled mortality rate was found to be 12% (95% CI: 10%-15%). High heterogeneity was observed, with an I² value of 94% and a p-value < 0.01. T wo studies, including 112 patients, reported mortality rates among individuals with congenital aortic coarctation. The pooled mortality rate was 5% (95% CI: 2%-10%). Statistical analysis showed very low heterogeneity, with I² = 0% and a p-value of 0.71. Conclusion Evidence-based approaches may support optimal ways to report infant mortality and complications linked to congenital anomalies as well as causation-correlation links. Living-synthesis of data could support improved clinical, scientific and patient-reported outcomes that is representative of all ethnicities and races.