A retrospective study on clinical and epidemiological profile of nonsyndromic cleft lip and palate patients admitted in a large Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to observe the clinical and epidemiological profile of nonsyndromic cleft lip (CL) and/or palate patients admitted to a cleft care center in West Bengal from May 2021 to April 2022. Materials and Methods: A retrospective epidemiological study had been done by preparing a master data sheet to record the patient's data from a Comprehensive Cleft Care Centre in West Bengal. The study variables included were patient's age reporting at the hospital, type of cleft, sex distribution of patients, residential address of the parents, socioeconomic status through parents' education, occupation, and monthly income, and consanguineous marriage history of the family. Results: A total of 276 nonsyndromic cleft patients during the time period (May 2021 to April 2022) were considered. Among these, 164 were male and 112 were female patients. The mean age of patients reporting to this hospital on average was 13–18 months. CL with palate patients (62%) predominated than any other type and was mostly seen in male patients (69.59%); isolated CL (22%) cases were more in females (56.25%), whereas isolated cleft palate (16%) cases were seen more in males (62.79%); unilateral (77%) and left-sided cleft (67%) were found predominantly than bilateral cases (23%) and seen mostly in females, whereas bilateral cleft cases were more in males. Most of the patients belonged to North 24 Parganas District which is an adjacent district of Kolkata, and most of the families belonged to a low socioeconomic group, and interestingly, most of them had consanguineous marriage history (61%) with at least one generation. Conclusion: The results of this study provided that CL with palate type is more common among all types of clefts and predominantly found in males than females in West Bengal. The unilateral left-sided cleft is predominant among all other varieties. Most of the parents belonged to low socioeconomic status and are having consanguineous marriage history. We need to spread awareness among the public through ads and banners, social media, and medical free camps about the deformity of CL and/or palate and also possible preventive measures, make arrangements for free treatment among the CL and/or CL and palate population for better life of cleft patients and their parents.