Epidemiology: Open Access

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Correlation of Maternal Age and Migration on IHPS Epidemiology in Germany 2000-2008

Jan de Laffolie, Dirk Faas, Markus Hirschburger, Salmai Turial

A decline in the incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) was recently reported in Sweden, the US, Denmark, Scotland, and Germany. Data to explain this phenomenon, however, are scarce.

Given our previous epidemiologic data showing a decline in the incidence of IHPS, we collected data on maternal age and history of migration from regional administrative centers to obtain data that might support an explanation for our previous findings. We examined the correlation between these factors and the incidence of IHPS.

Data were extracted from the public report of health (Gesundheitsberichterstattung des Bundes) and population data from federal state governments. We obtained the numbers of IHPS (ICD-10 code 40.0) and live births in each federal state for the period 2000-2008.

Further data were collected from federal state administrative agencies on age of the mother at the birth of their first child and history of migration for all mothers at first birth.

There were significant differences in the regional distribution of both variables and the variability of these factors over time. Average maternal age and the percentage of mothers with a history of migration showed a negative correlation with the regional incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Conclusion: The wide variation in the incidence of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis over time and for different regions is significantly inversely correlated with rising maternal age and the percentage of mothers with a history of migration.