Maternal factors in the origin of isolated oesophageal atresia: A population‐based case–control study

Background: In most patients affected by isolated oesophageal atresia (IOA) the etiology is largely unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze potential risk factors in mothers. Methods: The study samples included 221 cases with IOA, 356 matched and 38,151 population controls without any defect in the population‐based dataset of the Hungarian Case–Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980 to 1996. Only those exposures were evaluated that were medically recorded in prenatal maternity logbooks during the critical period of IOA. Results: The findings of this case–control study suggested that the mothers of cases with IOA had a higher proportion of first delivery and lower socioeconomic status. Acute respiratory diseases (odds ratio OR] 95% confidence interval CI], 3.8, 1.8–8.1) and essential hypertension treated with nifedipine (OR 95% CI, 3.8, 1.7–8.7) in the mothers of cases associated with a higher risk for IOA in their children. Conclusion: First delivery, lower socioeconomic status, acute respiratory diseases and essential hypertension treated with nifedipine in the mothers may associate with a higher risk for IOA in their children. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 103:804–813, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.