Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Birth Defects

Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are structural or functional abnormalities present at birth that arise during prenatal development and may affect any organ system. Structural defects involve malformed body parts, such as congenital heart defects or neural tube defects, while functional defects impai…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 7 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 7× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2474-3585 🗓 Reviewed July 2026

Overview

Birth defects, also called congenital anomalies, are structural or functional abnormalities present at birth that arise during prenatal development and may affect any organ system. Structural defects involve malformed body parts, such as congenital heart defects or neural tube defects, while functional defects impair processes including metabolism, sensory function, or development. Their causes are multifactorial, encompassing genetic and chromosomal factors, maternal nutritional deficiencies, infections, exposure to teratogenic drugs and environmental agents, and the interaction of inherited susceptibility with environmental influences during critical windows of organogenesis. Prevention and care, a focus of this area, emphasize modifiable risks: adequate maternal nutrition before and during pregnancy, immunization, control of maternal disease, avoidance of teratogens, and preconception and antenatal care. Research relevant to this topic examines the prevalence of congenital heart defects in neonatal populations, the pharmacokinetics and pregnancy profile of medications relevant to safe prescribing in pregnancy, and the role of nutrition services and nutritional adequacy during pregnancy and after surgery for obesity. Surveillance of prevalence, early detection through screening, and timely intervention reduce associated mortality and disability. The field integrates obstetrics, pediatrics, genetics, and preventive medicine to identify causes, quantify burden, and implement measures that lower the incidence and impact of congenital anomalies.

Research published in this journal

7 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

2017

Nutritional Deficiencies in Pregnancy after Surgery for Morbid Obesity

Augoulea AretiCorresponding author
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, Medical School,, Aretaieio Hospital, 76 Vas. Sofias Ave, GR-11528, Athens, Greece
Exact topic Digestive Disorders And Diagnosis doi:10.14302/issn.2574-4526.jddd-17-1776

How this research is being cited

The 7 articles above have been cited 7 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Birth Defects, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in Preventive Medicine And Care (ISSN 2474-3585).

Journal editorial board
Heejung Kim · South Korea Monica Wang · United States Siddhartha Jonnalagadda · United States

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.