A Comparison of Infants Affected with Congenital Abnormalities Born in the Inpatient Clinic or Treated in the Outpatient Clinic of the Same Hospital in the United Arab Emirates

Cases with congenital abnormalities were evaluated in the inpatient and outpatient materials of AI Mafraq Hospital in the United Arab Emirates between 1992 and 1994. The quality of data and diagnostic skill were appropriate. The baseline birth prevalence of total congenital abnormalities was 38.9 per 1000 which corresponded to the international figures based on nearly complete ascertainment. The cases of inpatient clinic may represent the general features of congenital abnormalities in the United Arab Emirates and particular clusters of different congenital abnormalities were not found.