Ethnic differences in congenital malformations.

Perinatal deaths and major lethal and non-lethal congenital malformations occurring in this hospital from 1979-82 inclusive were related to the ethnic group of the 15 438 mothers. The highest crude perinatal mortality rates occurred in Indian and Pakistani populations (18.3 per 1000 and 24.1 per 1000 respectively). The highest incidence of congenital abnormality also occurred in these groups (13.3 per 1000 and 12.8 per 1000 respectively), but there was considerable variation in the distribution of different malformations.