Congenital malformations in hospital admissions in Ribeirão Preto, State of S. Paulo, Brazil

Abstract

Data on admissions due to congenital malformations recorded by the Social Medicine Department Processing Center of Hospital Data, Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine, USP, registered by seven Hospitals between January 1st 1970 and July 30th 1974, are presented. These admissions represent 1.48% of the total of admissions, excluding accidents. The contribution of each hospital to these admissions is described. The distributions of the main and secondary diagnosis classified by the type of malformation were compared and showed a significant difference. A significant increase of percentages of admissions with diagnosis of congenital malformation was found throughout the years, this trend being only due to the Hospital das Clínicas. The mortality percentage, the sex ratio and the mean time of admission were also analyzed, and a significant increase was found for the latest. The analysis of surgical procedures, age distribution and patients' place of residence suggest that the hospitals in Ribeirão Preto are serving as reference centers for treatment and correction of congenital malformations.