%0 Journal Article %A McDonnell, Robert J. %A Delany, V %A O'Mahony, M T. %A Lynch, Catherine %A McKeating, Aoife %A Monteith, Cathy %A Turner, Michael JA %D 2019 %T An Audit of Neural Tube Defects in the Republic Of Ireland for 2012-2015. %U https://repository.rcsi.com/articles/journal_contribution/An_Audit_of_Neural_Tube_Defects_in_the_Republic_Of_Ireland_for_2012-2015_/10787501 %2 https://repository.rcsi.com/ndownloader/files/19300229 %K Audit %K Neural Tube Defects %K Pregnancy %K Ireland %K Obstetrics and Gynaecology %X

Neural tube defects (NTD) are potentially preventable in two-thirds of cases by periconceptional maternal Folic Acid (FA) supplementation. A national audit for the years 2009-11 showed no decline in NTD rates over twenty years. The aim of this national audit was to determine trends/rates and inform revision of national FA supplementation and food fortification strategies. Of 274,732 live and stillbirths there were 121(42.0%) cases of anencephaly, 136(47.2%) cases of spina bifida and 31(10.8%) cases of encephalocoele giving a total of 288 and overall rate of 1.05/1000 compared with 1.04/1000 in 2009-11(NS). In the 184 women where the information was available, only 29.9%(n=55) reported starting FA before pregnancy. The number of cases diagnosed antenatally was 91%(n=262) and 53%(n=154) were live-born. This audit confirms that over a generation, healthcare interventions have not succeeded in decreasing the number of pregnancies in Ireland complicated by NTD, and that revised strategies need to be developed and implemented.

%I Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland