Risk factors for orofacial clefts: case-control study in non-syndromic individuals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Resumo

Orofacial clefts (OFC) are common congenital malformations that affect family quality of life. The identification of risk factors involved with OFC would contribute to the implementation of public health programs. A hospital based case–control study was conducted with non-syndromic OFC cases (n=150) and unaffected controls (n=150) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to identify the association of OFC with risk factors. The relation of gender, ethnicity, systemic history of relatives, family history of oral clefts, alcohol, tobacco use and passive maternal tabagism during pregnancy and the mother’s residence were evaluated. Differences between orofacial cleft cases and controls and between types of orofacial clefts were analyzed. According to the study, the main associations relating to OFCs were a positive family history of OFC (OR: 20.34, 95% CI: 5.86-84.42; p=0.000), alcohol use during pregnancy (OR: 3.75, 95% CI: 1.62-8.92; p=0.001), tobacco use during pregnancy (OR: 3.65, 95% CI: 1.82-7.44; p=0.000) and mother’s residence (rural) (OR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.04-5.69; p=0.025). Also a family of OFC individuals presented a higher risk for renal diseases (OR: 2.99, 95% CI: 0.84-11.64; p=0.058). The study concluded that exposure to some environmental risk factors during pregnancy increase the risk for OFC.