Association Between Cleft Lip and or Palate and Hospitalization Outcomes Among Newborns in the United States

Abstract

Objective

To examine the association between the occurrence of cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) in newborns (compared to newborns without CLP) and in-hospital outcomes such as mortality, length of stay (LOS), and hospital charges.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

National.

Patients

The National Inpatient Sample database for the years 2020-2022 was used in the present study. All newborns were included in the study. They were grouped into newborns born with CLP and newborns without CLP.

Interventions

None.

Main outcome variable

In-hospital mortality, LOS, and hospital charges. Multivariable regression models were used to examine outcomes.

Results

Of 10,422,242 newborn hospitalizations in 2020 through 2022, 15,300 were diagnosed with cleft lip and/or palate (CLP). During this period, the in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher among newborns with CLP (3.9%) compared to those without CLP (0.03%). Hospitalization charges for newborns with CLP were substantially higher than those without CLP (mean charges of $106,617 versus $22,671). The average LOS in those with CLP was 10.5 days compared to 3.4 days in those without CLP. In-hospital mortality, LOS, and hospital charges were significantly higher in newborns with CLP compared to those without CLP after controlling for potential confounders (P < .001).

Conclusions

The overall incidence rate of CLP among hospitalized newborns was 1.468 per 1000 newborns during the study period. Following controlling for a variety of patient and hospital-related variables, in-hospital mortality rate, LOS, and hospital charges were significantly higher among newborns with CLP compared to those without CLP.