Non-syndromal orofacial clefts in the Canterbury/West Coast region during the 2000-2009 period.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the incidence and ethnic characteristics of orofacial clefting in the Canterbury/West Coast region over the ten-year period 2000-2009 and compare it with previously-reported data. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of case-series data. SETTING: Cleft clinic, Oral Health Centre, Christchurch Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All babies born in the Canterbury/West Coast region from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2009 with a non-syndromal orofacial cleft were included. RESULTS: The calculated incidence of non-syndromal orofacial clefts was 1.69 per thousand live births, comprising 0.85 for cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL[P]) and and 0.84 for isolated cleft palate (CP). The earlier 40-year data estimated an incidence of 1.94 per thousand live births made up of 1.13 CL[P] and 0.81 CP. Maori and non-Maori had a similar incidence of CL[P]; however, it appears that Maori had a much higher incidence of CP than non-Maori (incidence of 1.35 and 0.88 per thousand live births respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of CL[P] has decreased while that of CP has remained constant. The incidence of CP in Maori is higher than in non-Maori.