Abstract
Using data from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database, rates of adverse birth outcomes were compared among residents of Sydney, Nova Scotia and residents of Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia (excluding Sydney) with birth outcomes among residents of the rest of Nova Scotia. There was a small but statistically significant increase in the rate of major congenital anomalies in Sydney (2.8%) compared to the rest of Nova Scotia (2.3%) (adjusted RR=1.25, 95% CI=1.04–1.51). Rates of anomaly sub-groups were consistently elevated in Sydney compared to the rest of Nova Scotia, but most were not statistically significant. For the most part, the increased rates of congenital anomalies observed among residents of Sydney were not evident in the neighbouring community. Since Sydney and the rest of Cape Breton County share a similar risk factor and socio-demographic profile, other factors likely explain the increased rates observed in Sydney.
Résumé
En puisant dans la base de données périnatales Atlee de Nouvelle-Écosse, nous avons comparé les taux d’issues indésirables de la grossesse chez les habitants de Sydney et de Cape Breton County (sauf Sydney) à ceux des habitants du reste de la Nouvelle-Écosse. Nous avons constaté une augmentation faible, mais significative, des taux des principales anomalies congénitales à Sydney (2,8 %) par rapport au reste de la Nouvelle-Écosse (2,3 %) (RR standardisé = 1,25, 95 % IC=1,04-1,51). Les taux des sousgroupes d’anomalies étaient uniformément plus élevés à Sydney, mais dans la plupart des cas, pas de facon significative. Dans l’ensemble, les taux supérieurs d’anomalies congénitales observés chez les habitants de Sydney ne se retrouvaient pas dans la localité voisine. Comme Sydney et le reste de Cape Breton County affichent des facteurs de risque et un profil sociodémographique semblables, d’autres facteurs expliquent sans doute les taux supérieurs observés à Sydney.
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