The CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and the National Birth Defects Prevention Network have published a new study presenting updated national prevalence estimates for select birth defects from 2004 to 2006. The data shows that more than 2,000 babies are born in the United States each year with differences in either arms, legs or both.
The 2004-2006 study showed the following data:
· Estimated annual incidence: Each year, there were an estimated 2,155 live births involving a reduction or difference of upper or lower limbs. There were 1,454 upper-limb and 701 lower-limb differences.
· Estimated cases per birth: A reduction or difference of the upper limbs occurred in one in 2,869 live births, while a reduction or difference of the lower limb occurred in one in 5,949 live births.
· Estimated national prevalence: There was a reduction or difference of upper limbs in 3.49 per 10,000 live births, and 1.68 per 10,000 live births for lower limbs.
The study used data from 14 birth defects tracking programs in the United States to generate national estimates for incidence and prevalence on a variety of birth defects, including congenital limb differences.
“Children born today with limb difference can completely thrive,” Kendra Calhoun, president and chief executive officer of the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA), stated in a press release. “Advancements in prosthetic devices and more open minds in communities across the country open doors for these youth in ways that a decade ago may not have been available.”
