European journal of pediatric surgery : official journal of Austrian Association of Pediatric Surgery ... [et al] = Zeitschrift fur Kinderchirurgie
July 15, 2026 · via Europe PMC
Population-Based Analysis of Prevalence, Associated Anomalies, and Mortality in Anorectal Malformations in Finland (2004-2017).
Salminen A, Tötterman S, Helenius I, +5 more, Raitio A.
AI summary — for doctors, generated from the abstract only
A 14-year Finnish population-based study found the prevalence of anorectal malformations has remained stable at about 8 per 10,000 births, with neonatal and infant mortality (4.6% and 6.0%, respectively) strongly associated with low birth weight, prematurity, and congenital heart defects.
What was studied
A population-based registry study using Finnish national health data (2004-2017) identifying all cases of anorectal malformation (ARM), including live births, stillbirths, and terminations of pregnancy due to fetal anomalies (TOPFA), to assess overall prevalence, trends over time, associated anomalies, and neonatal/infant mortality.
Key findings
- 646 ARM cases were identified: 545 live births (84.4%), 8 stillbirths (1.2%), and 93 TOPFA (14.4%).
- Total ARM prevalence in Finland was 8.00 per 10,000 births, without significant variation between 2004 and 2017.
- Neonatal mortality was 4.6% (n=25) and infant mortality was 6.0% (n=33).
- Both neonatal and infant mortality were significantly associated with very low birth weight (p=0.0001), prematurity (p=0.0001), and congenital heart defects (p=0.02 for one mortality measure); an additional associated factor's exact p-values are truncated in the available abstract text.
Clinical relevance
The findings suggest that mortality risk in anorectal malformation remains concentrated in infants with severe associated anomalies (particularly low birth weight, prematurity, and cardiac defects), reinforcing the importance of systematic screening for co-occurring malformations in these patients.
Who should care
Limitations
This is a registry-based study relying on the completeness and accuracy of national health registers, and some statistical detail was truncated in the available abstract text, though the large population-based sample is a notable strength.
Anorectal malformation prevalence has remained stable in Finland over 14 years, but infants with this condition who also have very low birth weight, prematurity, or heart defects face substantially higher mortality risk.
This is an AI-generated summary of the published abstract, not a clinical recommendation. It may not reflect the full text or subsequent updates — verify against the original source before acting on it.
Abstract
Introduction
Anorectal malformations (ARMs) represent the most common form of congenital gastrointestinal malformations. ARMs range from mild anal stenosis to complex abnormalities involving the rectum, genitals, and urinary tract. The aim of this study is to investigate prevalence, mortality, and associated anomalies of ARMs in the Finnish population. This study offers comprehensive updated population-based estimates on stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy due to fetal anomalies (TOPFA).
Materials and methods
The data were obtained on all live births, TOPFA, and stillbirths from registers maintained by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and Statistics Finland. All individuals diagnosed with ARM between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2017, were included in the study.
Results
This population-based study identified 646 ARM cases, including 545 (84.4%) live births, 8 (1.2%) stillbirths, and 93 (14.4%) TOPFA. The total prevalence for ARM in Finland was 8.00 per 10,000 births, without significant variation in prevalence between 2004 and 2017. Neonatal mortality was 4.6% (n = 25), and infant mortality was 6.0% (n = 33). Neonatal and infant mortality were both associated with very low birth weight (p = 0.0001), prematurity (p = 0.0001), congenital heart defects (p = 0.02 and p p = 0.0002 and p < 0.001, respectively). Postnatal survival rate for isolated ARM was 100%. Most commonly associated anomalies were urinary tract, heart, and limb malformations.
Conclusion
The overall prevalence of ARMs has remained stable in the Finnish population. Neonatal and infant mortality remains a significant concern, particularly among patients with severe associated anomalies, highlighting the importance of systematic screening for co-occurring malformations.
DOI
10.1055/a-2915-1984
PMID
42457155
Research metadata (titles, abstracts, authors, publication dates) is sourced from Europe PMC, which aggregates content from PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed Central, and other providers under the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM/NCBI). NLM does not claim copyright on abstracts; the original journal publishers or authors may hold rights to the full articles. AI-generated summaries are derived only from the abstract, never the full text, and are always labeled as AI-generated.
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