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Objective: There is no research on the predictors of birth defects in Al Ahsa Governorate in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The aim of this research was to detect the predictors of isolated structural birth defects in live births., Methods: We conducted this study from April 2006 to 2010. Live births with isolated birth defects represented our sample for this retrospective case control study. Univariate analysis was done for all possible risk factors. Logistic regression analysis was done for all predictors in relation to different birth defects., Results: Out of 37168 live births, isolated structural birth defects were found in 318 cases. Obesity ( body mass index > 30) was a significant predictor for increased nervous system anomalies ( odds ratio (OR): 7.83, CI: 3.9-15.4), facial defects (OR: 5.92, CI: 2.8-12.4), genitourinary anomalies (OR: 4.6 CI: 1.9-11.1), and cardiac malformations (OR: 2.7 CI: 1.3-5.7). Consanguinity increased the risk for cardiac malformations (OR: 3.32, CI: 1.54-7.17). Low socio-economic status increased the risk for nervous system anomalies (OR: 2.09, CI: 1.18-3.7), facial defects (OR: 2.33, CI: 1.25-4.33) and musculoskeletal anomalies (OR: 2.3, CI: 1.29-4.09)., Conclusion: Maternal obesity represented the most common predictor for certain categories of isolated structural birth defects including nervous system, facial, genitourinary and cardiac.

Background: Birth defects and inborn errors of metabolism are related to variable poor perinatal and neonatal outcomes. Our aim was to explore the pattern and prevalence of birth defects and metabolic birth errors in Al-Ahsa Governorate in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia., Methods: This retrospective case control study was done from April 2006 to 2009. Children with any birth defect or metabolic errors of metabolism at birth or in the neonatology section were our sample for study. Control group was randomly selected from the cases with normal live births. Blood tests were performed for children suspected to suffer from genetic blood disorders. The principal BD as per the International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) code was also noted., Results: Out of 38001 live births, birth defects were found in 1.14% and errors of metabolism were detected in 0.17%. The most common birth defects were craniofacial malformations. The 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase deficiency was the most common inborn errors of metabolism. Consanguinity, rural residence and prematurity were associated with significant rise in birth defects. On the other hand, consanguinity and low birth weight were associated with significant rise in metabolic errors., Conclusion: First cousins consanguinity represented the most significant risk factor for birth defects and inborn errors of metabolism. High degree of inbreeding, consanguinity may exacerbate underlying recessive genetic risk factors.