Congenital Cytomegalovirus Mortality in the United States, 1990–2006
Author Information
Author(s): Bristow Benjamin N., O'Keefe Kaitlin A., Shafir Shira C., Sorvillo Frank J.
Primary Institution: Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California Los Angeles
Hypothesis
What is the burden of congenital CMV-related mortality in the US and are there racial/ethnic disparities?
Conclusion
Congenital CMV infection causes significant mortality in the US, particularly among African Americans and Native Americans.
Supporting Evidence
- 777 congenital CMV-associated deaths occurred from 1990 to 2006.
- 71.7% of these deaths were in infants under 1 year old.
- Native Americans and African Americans were significantly more likely to die from congenital CMV than whites.
Takeaway
Congenital CMV is a virus that can make babies very sick and even cause death, especially in certain groups of people.
Methodology
The study analyzed national death certificate data from 1990 to 2006 to identify congenital CMV-associated deaths and calculated mortality rates using census data.
Potential Biases
Misclassification of congenital CMV on death certificates may occur, and population estimates for race/ethnicity may distort mortality rates.
Limitations
Death certificates may contain errors, and congenital CMV infections that do not result in live births are not represented in the data.
Participant Demographics
The study included deaths of US residents from various racial/ethnic backgrounds, with a focus on infants and children.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 0.15–0.18
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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