Abstract

Objective

To assess the dynamics of the frequency and structure of congenital defects of the central nervous system in Dushanbe depending on birth weight
 

Materials and Methods

Registered cases of congenital malformations of the central nervous system among live births, stillbirths, and deaths in the early neonatal period with distribution by birth weight: 500-999 g (extremely low birth weight), 1000-1499 g (very low birth weight), 1500-2499 g (low birth weight), ≥ 2500 g (normal body weight). Retrospective analysis of data from the Republican Center for Medical Statistics and Information of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Republic of Tajikistan, presented in Form No. 32 "Information on medical care for pregnant women, women in labor, and newborns" for 2020-2024 in the city of Dushanbe.
 

Results

Between 2020 and 2024, a decrease in the proportion of congenital defects of the central nervous system was observed among live births: with low body weight (1500–2499 g) – by 4,4 times (from 18,6% to 4,2%), with normal weight (≥2500 g) – by 1,4 times (from 8,5% to 6,2%). In early neonatal mortality, a decrease was found in newborns with very low body weight (1000-1499 g) – by 2,6 times (from 21,1% to 8,0%), with low (1500-2499 g) – by 2,7 times (from 37,0% to 13,9%), with normal (≥2500 g) – by 2,1 times (from 18,5% to 8,6%) Among stillborns, the proportion of congenital defects of the central nervous system has increased: with extremely low body weight (500-999 g) – by 1,4 times (from 54,5% to 75,0%), with very low (1000-1499 g) – by 2,1 times (from 35,3% to 75,0%), with low (1500-2499 g) –  by 1,7 times (from 38,2% to 66,7%).
 

Conclusion

Congenital defects of the central nervous system were most common in extremely and very low birth weight infants. The observed downward trend in the incidence of CNS defects in most birth weight categories demonstrates the effectiveness of early detection and prevention measures, but further improvements to prenatal diagnosis and specialized perinatal care are needed.
 

Keywords

congenital defects of the central nervous system birth weight live births early neonatal mortality stillbirths.

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