Association between uterus uni/bicornis in pregnant women and postural deformities in their offspring

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the investigation was to study the possible association between uterus uni- or bicornis in pregnant women and structural birth defects (ie, congenital abnormalities) in their offspring.

Study design: There were 22,843 cases with congenital abnormality recorded in the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities, 1980-1996. These subjects were matched to 38,151 controls without any defect. Prevalence of medically recorded uterus uni/bicornis in the prenatal maternity logbook in the mothers of subjects with different congenital abnormalities and of their matched controls without any defect were compared.

Results: Fifty-seven (0.25%) subjects and 67 (0.18%) controls had mothers with uterus uni/bicornis. There was a significant association of uterus uni/bicornis in pregnant women with a higher risk of total group of congenital abnormalities (adjusted odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.2) explained mainly by a significantly higher risk of clubfoot and particularly postural deformity association in their children (adjusted odds ratio, 4.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-9.1).

Conclusion: Pregnant women with a uni/bicornis uterus have a significantly higher risk of clubfoot and postural deformity association.