AIM OF STUDY: An analysis of incidences of selected birth defects in the Czech 
Republic in 2000 - 2008 period.
TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective epidemiological analysis of birth defects 
incidences in births and total birth defects incidences (including prenatally 
diagnosed cases) from the Czech National Birth Defects Register database.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from the National Birth Defects Register (Institute 
for Health Information and Statistics) in the Czech Republic in the 2000 - 2008 
period were used along with data on prenatally diagnosed defects from particular 
departments of medical genetics. Sixteen selected defects (anencephaly, spina 
bifida, encephalocele, congenital hydrocephalus, coarctation of aorta, 
transposition of great vessels, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Fallot 
tetralogy, omphalocele, gastroschisis, diaphragmatic hernia, oesophageal atresia 
and stenosis, anorectal malformations, Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and Patau 
syndrome) were analyzed in detail.
RESULTS: There were 119 570 live births (61 326 boys and 58 244 girls) in 2008. 
In the same period, 4664 live births with a birth defect (under the age of one 
year) were reported, out of which 2754 boys and 1910 girls. Mean incidence was 
390.06 (449.08 in boys and 327.93 in girls) per 10 000 live births. In 1994 - 
2006, totally 1 238 398 children were born, out of which more than 42 000 with a 
birth defect. In the 2000 - 2006 period, absolute numbers of diagnosed live 
births with birth defect varied between 3600 - 3800 cases per year while in 2007 
and 2008 years absolute numbers raised over 4600 cases per year. During 2000 - 
2008 period following mean incidences (per 10 000 live births) of selected 
defects were ascertained (total incidences including prenatal diagnostics in 
brackets): anencephaly 0 - 0.3 (1.9 - 3.7), spina bifida 0.7 - 2.3 (3.2 - 5.2), 
encephalocele 0.1 - 0.4 (0.9 - 2.4), congenital hydrocephalus 1.6 - 3.5 (5.3 - 
7.0), coarctation of aorta 3.9 - 5.2 (4.8 - 6.1), transposition of great vessels 
2.9 - 4.5 (3.2 - 5.0), hypoplastic left heart syndrome 0.7 - 2.3 (2.2 - 4.3), 
Fallot tetralogy 2.6 - 4.0 (3.2 - 4.4), omphalocele 1.0 - 1.7 (1.8 - 3.8), 
gastroschisis 0.2 - 1.2 (2.4 - 3.4), diaphragmatic hernia 1.3 - 2.9 (1.5 - 3.9), 
Down syndrome 3.3 - 6.5 (15.8 - 22.2), Edwards syndrome 0.2 - 1.0 (3.5 - 5.8) 
and Patau syndrome 0.2 - 1.0 (1.2 - 2.6).
CONCLUSIONS: There has been no major change in birth defect incidences in live 
births in the Czech Republic in last years. Number of non-viable defects has 
decreased in stillbirths and in perinatal mortality in the Czech Republic. An 
incidence of some defects has decreased mostly due to a nation-wide system of 
prenatal diagnostics; some incidences remain stable in live-birth population in 
others incidences have increased. A total incidence has mostly increased 
(anencephaly being an exception) mostly due to an earlier prenatal diagnostics. 
In chromosomal syndromes, an increasing maternal age as well as a growing number 
of mothers of 35 years of age and over has contributed to the increased 
incidences.