No significant changes in the prevalence of congenital malformations
In Finland, major congenital malformations were found in a total of approximately 2,000 stillborn and live born infants in 2022. In the same year, approximately 340 pregnancies were terminated because of fetal malformations.
The statistics are based on the Finnish Register of Congenital Malformations, which covers congenital malformations diagnosed in live born and stillborn infants and in fetuses in Finland.
There have been minor changes in the number of cases of malformations over the years. Especially in the past few years, the number of cases has decreased as the birth rate has declined. When the number of cases of malformations is proportioned to the number of infants born, there have been no significant changes in the prevalence on an annual basis.
In 2022, the total prevalence of congenital malformations (per births and terminations of pregnancy for fetal indications) was around 540 cases per 10,000 infants born, which is also the average prevalence of the past ten years.
| Year | Total prevalence (1/10,000 births) | Birth prevalence (1/10,000 births) | Prevalence for selective terminations of pregnancy (1/10,000 births) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 540 | 482 | 58 |
| 2014 | 536 | 474 | 62 |
| 2015 | 555 | 491 | 65 |
| 2016 | 535 | 466 | 69 |
| 2017 | 557 | 489 | 69 |
| 2018 | 532 | 469 | 64 |
| 2019 | 547 | 474 | 74 |
| 2020 | 530 | 458 | 72 |
| 2021 | 530 | 460 | 70 |
| 2022 | 540 | 455 | 80 |
Proportion of terminations of pregnancy for fetal malformations has increased gradually
In 2022, a total of 367 pregnancies were terminated because of fetal malformations. Of all significant malformation cases, 15.3 per cent were terminations based on fetal indications.
The proportion has increased gradually: in 2000, terminations of pregnancy for fetal indications accounted for 10.6 per cent of cases of major congenital malformations and the average for the past ten years was 12.7 per cent.
About the data in the statistics in more detail
Background information
- Statistical quality report
- Privacy notice
- Data resource description (Data resources catalogue) (in Finnish)
- Instructions for submitting data (in Finnish)
Source
Congenital malformations.
Official Statistics of Finland, Congenital malformations. THL.
Description of the statistics
The statistics include information on malformations diagnosed in live born and stillborn infants and in fetuses. The statistics provide information on the number and prevalence of congenital malformations annually for the whole country and by collaborative areas.
The statistics examine congenital malformations as a whole and look in more detail at certain internationally monitored congenital malformation diagnoses, infant mortality associated with congenital malformations and terminations of pregnancy for fetal indications.
Data on congenital malformations are collected from healthcare units and from other national health registers. The statistical data are used for the monitoring of congenital malformations nationally and regionally and, for example, for planning prenatal screenings, fetal diagnostics and the treatment of congenital malformations, as well as for research on congenital malformations.
Update schedule
The statistics are published annually. The date of publication can be found in the publication calendar.
Publication calendar for statistics
Contact information
Chief Physician
tel. +358 29 524 7524
[email protected]
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