EUROCAT study: Prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD) in younger mothers in Europe 2000-2008: analysis of the EUROCAT database

BackgroundIn Europe, the prevalence of neural tube defects (NTD) excluding chromosomal anomalies is 9.44 per 10,000 births, 2000-2007, and accounts for approximately 5% of all congenital anomalies 1.  Teenage mothers have a significantly greater risk of NTD compared to older mothers, particularly anencephaly 2. One explanation is that teenage mothers are less likely to take perinconceptional folic acid or have poorer nutrition. However, it is not clear why this would not apply to their risk of spina bifida. Previous studies have not analysed specific risks in the younger teenage mothers <20 years of age.    Aim of study:1. To investigate the risk of NTD in younger teenage mothers (<15 years, 15 years, 16 years, 17 years, 18 years, 19 years) compared to mothers aged 25-29 years (baseline).   2. To update the risk estimate in Loane et al for NTD in mothers <20 years, with more years of data (adding 2005-2008 to 2000-2004) compared to mothers aged 25-29 years.