Time trend of incidence rates of cleft lip/palate in Taiwan from 1994 to 2013

Background: This study was to estimate the incidence rate of cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) in Taiwan from 1994 to 2013, and to assess the time trend over these years. Methods: Retrospective data analysis was performed on records of all newborns with CL/P treated at Chang Gung Craniofacial Center, the only treatment center for CL/P in Taiwan, from 1994 to 2013. Three-year moving average rates were computed and linear regression was used to explore the annual average percentage change. Results: From 1994 to 2013, 7282 newborns with CL/P were identified, corresponding to an annual rate of 1.48% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.45 parts per thousand-1.52 parts per thousand). There was a significant decline of rate of cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL +/- P) (-2.9% +/- 0.2%, p < 0.0001) but slightly increase of rate of cleft palate (CP) only (+0.2% +/- 0.07%, p = 0.004). Conclusion: From 1994 to 2013, the annual rate of incidence of CL/P was 1.48% in Taiwan. The 2.9% annual decline of the rate was mainly from the CL +/- P group, not the CP group.