Epidemiological Trends in Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Frequency: An Analytical Perspective

Abstract

Background: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) represents a common congenital anomaly characterized by incomplete fusion of facial structures during embryonic development. Objective: To assess the epidemiological trends in cleft lip and cleft palate frequency: an analytical perspective. Study Design: Retrospective observational study. Settings: Department of Anatomy, Nowshera Medical College, Nowshera, Pakistan. Duration: From October 2022 to March 2023. Methods: The study included patients diagnosed with cleft lips, cleft palate, or both, who presented to the hospital. Medical records of both pediatric and adult patients were reviewed to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the prevalence and associated factors. Anatomical perspectives were assessed through clinical examination and imaging studies such as photographs and radiographs. Results: The mean age of the study population was 18.5±5.12 years. In terms of gender, males constituted 60.0% of the population, while females accounted for 40.0%. The distribution of cleft types among the study population revealed that 60% (n=105) were diagnosed with cleft lip only, while 25.7% (n=45) presented with cleft palate only. Additionally, 14.3% (n=25) of individuals had both cleft lip and palate. The anatomical description of clefts among the study population was as follows: For cleft lip, 40% (n=70) were classified as mild, 35% (n=61) as moderate, and 25% (n=44) as severe, indicating a varied spectrum of severity in lip involvement. Regarding cleft palate, 60% (n=105) were categorized as incomplete, while 40% (n=70) were classified as complete, reflecting the predominance of incomplete palatal clefts in the sample. In terms of cleft distribution, 55% (n=96) of cases were unilateral, 35% (n=61) were bilateral, and 10% (n=18) were midline, indicating diverse patterns of cleft distribution observed. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study contributes to the understanding of the anatomical variations and distributions of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) within our population, emphasizing the spectrum of severity and patterns of cleft involvement.