Printed in Great Britain Trends in Infant Deaths from Congenital Anomalies: Results from

Major strides have been made in reducing infant mortality in many parts of the world. As the number of infants dying from infectious diseases has declined, further redutions will require progress in reducing mortality in less tractable causes of death. As a result, the proportion of infant deaths attributable to congenital anomalies has been rising. Mor-tality due to different types of congenital anomalies is examined for the period 1976-1985 in the United States, England and Wales, Scotland and Sweden. There are compelling reasons for being interested in congenital anomalies. During recent decades, the pro-portion of all infant deaths due to congenital anomalies has increased rapidly in most developed nations because the decline in infant mortality from all causes has exceeded the decline in mortality from congenital defects. As a result of this differential rate of decline, birth defects are among the leading causes of infant death. In addition to causing many infant deaths, congeni