October 10, 2025Open Access

Pregnancy Outcomes With Congenital Anomalies In South-Eastern Turkey: A Ten-Year Retrospective Study From A Tertiary Centre

STSenem Yaman TunçDicle University RPRonahi PolatDicle University RGReyhan GündüzDicle University

Key Points

Congenital anomalies affected 7.3% of births in the cohort, showing a notable prevalence in the region.
Survival rate at ≥24 weeks was significantly higher at 89.9%, compared to only 1% at <24 weeks, indicating critical gestational implications.
The observational study revealed fetal anomalies, with neural tube defects being prevalent in 31.8% of cases, emphasizing the need for early identification.
Gestational age emerged as the sole independent predictor of survival, underscoring the importance of prenatal screening in congenital anomaly cases.

Abstract

Congenital anomalies are an important cause of infant morbidity and mortality and have a high prevalence, especially in low- and middle-income countries. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the prevalence, distribution, and outcomes of congenital anomalies in Southeast Turkey over a 10-year period and investigated prognostic factors affecting survival. A total of 956 pregnant women referred to a tertiary care centre with suspected or confirmed fetal anomaly between January 2015 and December 2024 were included in the study. Maternal demographic, obstetric and clinical data and fetal characteristics were obtained from hospital records. Anomalies were classified according to organ systems and birth weights were categorised according to World Health Organization definitions. Congenital anomalies were observed in 956 (7.3%) of 13,089 births. Central nervous system anomalies were the most common (44.2%), followed by cystic hygroma (10.3%), cardiac (9.4%) and urinary system anomalies (8.7%). Neural tube defects were present in 31.8% of cases and spina bifida was the dominant type (51.0%). Survival was 89.9% at ≥24 weeks compared to only 1% at less than 24 weeks (plt;0.001). Logistic regression identified gestational age as the only independent predictor of survival (OR=0.744, 95% confidence interval:0.555-0.997, p=0.048). These findings emphasise the importance of early diagnosis, prenatal screening and region-specific preventive strategies.

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