Mortality Among Infants Born With Orofacial Clefts in a Single Cleft Network

Objective: To determine mortality rate and cause of death in infants born with orofacial clefts. Methods: Retrospective case note review of all children with orofacial clefts within the East of England Cleft Network who have died. Results: Between 2002 and 2010, of 638 children born with orofacial clefts, 23 died at a median age of 5 months (range, 1 day to 4 years). The overall mortality rate was 36 per 1000 cleft births. A total of 21 deaths were in the isolated cleft palate group, with a calculated death rate of 68.1 per 1000. One child each from the cleft lip and the cleft lip and palate groups died. Of the children who died, 21 (91%) had other structural abnormalities. Of these children, 19 (83%) died before their first birthday. The causes of death were mainly due to associated congenital anomalies (61%) and infection (17%). Conclusions: Children born with cleft palate have a 15-fold increase in mortality compared with the regional East of England infant mortality rate and at least a 10-fold increas...