Natural history and epidemiology of cleft lip and palate: a registry-based study in Iran (2000-19)

Abstract The aim of this study was to provide the natural history and epidemiology of cleft lip and cleft palate in the northwest region of Iran between 2000 and 2019. Since 2000, infants born with birth defects have been registered in the Tabriz Registry of Congenital Anomalies (TRoCA). For this study, the information and data were collected using the TRoCA registry system. Prevalence of cleft lip and cleft palate was 1.48 (95% CI 1.34; 1.62) per 1000 live births over the past two decades in the region. The occurrence of cleft lip and cleft palate was more common in males than females. The fetal death ratio was 5 percent of live born children. The proportion of infants with cleft lip and cleft palate surviving to the second week was 54 percent. The results may have a role in planning and evaluating the strategies for primary prevention of cleft lip and cleft palate, particularly in high-risk populations.