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Birth prevalence of cryptorchidism and hypospadias in northern England, 1993–2000
  1. N A Abdullah1,
  2. M S Pearce1,
  3. L Parker1,2,
  4. J R Wilkinson3,
  5. B Jaffray4,
  6. R J Q McNally1,5
  1. 1Paediatric and Lifecourse Epidemiology Research Group, School of Clinical Medical Sciences (Child Health), Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  2. 2Departments of Pediatrics and Community Health and Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada
  3. 3North East Public Health Observatory, University of Durham, Durham, UK
  4. 4Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  5. 5Institute of Health and Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr Richard J Q McNally
    Sir James Spence Institute, Newcastle University,Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 4LP, UK;Richard.McNally{at}ncl.ac.uk

Abstract

Aim: There is much debate as to whether the prevalence rates of cryptorchidism and hypospadias are increasing. To address this issue we investigated the birth prevalence of cryptorchidism and hypospadias in the northern region of England during the period 1993–2000.

Methods: Cases of cryptorchidism and hypospadias were identified from northern region hospital episodes statistics (HES). Trends in birth prevalence, based on the number of male live births, were assessed using linear regression.

Results: Prevalence was 7.6 per 1000 male live births for cryptorchidism and 3.1 per 1000 male live births for hypospadias. The orchidopexy rates for 0–4 year olds and 5–14 year olds were 1.8 and 0.8 per 1000 male population, respectively. The rates for hypospadias repair for 0–4 year olds and 5–14 year olds were 0.6 and 0.1 per 1000 male population, respectively. There was a statistically significant decreasing temporal trend for the corrective procedure in cryptorchidism of 0.1 per 1000 male population aged under 5 years per annum (95% confidence interval: −0.01 to −0.05, p<0.001), but no temporal change for the corrective procedure in hypospadias (p = 0.60).

Conclusion: HES data were of high quality for the study period. There was no significant change in the prevalence of surgically corrected hypospadias. However, there was an apparent decline in the prevalence of surgically corrected cryptorchidism that may reflect a decrease in the prevalence of the condition or may be due to a decrease in the rate of surgical intervention.

  • cryptorchidism
  • hypospadias
  • birth prevalence
  • orchidopexy

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Footnotes

  • Published Online First 6 December 2007

  • This study was funded by the Birth Defects Foundation.

  • Competing interests: None.

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