Last year's congenital anomaly rate was 28.5%... Average age of first pregnancy rising to 32

‌There were rumors circulating on online communities and social media that the rate of congenital anomalies among newborns reached 20%. However, it has been revealed that the actual rate is even higher. This is reportedly due to advanced diagnostic technologies allowing for more detections, alongside the trend of advanced maternal age.
On the 19th, ‘Money Today’ reported, "An analysis of data obtained through the National Assembly and the National Health Insurance Service revealed that the rate of congenital anomalies among newborns last year was 28.5%." The newspaper explained, "While the absolute number of congenital anomalies is decreasing, the proportion of anomalies among total births has actually increased because the number of births is declining even more rapidly."
In 2013, the number of congenital anomalies was 81,891, accounting for 18.7% of the approximately 436,000 newborns. However, last year, while the number of newborns dropped significantly to 249,000 and the number of anomalies decreased to 71,066, the percentage increased to 28.5%.
According to the newspaper, congenital anomalies of the digestive system were the most common at 23,412 cases, followed by congenital anomalies and malformations of the musculoskeletal system at 17,714, and congenital anomalies of the circulatory system at 16,969. This was followed by congenital anomalies of the eyes, ears, face, and neck at 2,548, and congenital anomalies of the nervous system at 2,365. Congenital anomalies of the reproductive and urinary systems were also around 2,200 cases each.
The newspaper stated, "The increase in congenital anomalies is interpreted as being partly influenced by late marriage and childbirth." Contrary to some claims, medically, pregnancy after age 35 is considered advanced maternal age. This is because fertility rates drop significantly due to the aging of reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovaries. Furthermore, the risk of pregnancy complications increases.
The frequency of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome, also increases significantly in the fetus. For a 20-year-old mother, the incidence of Down syndrome is 1 in 1,200, whereas for a 35-year-old mother, it rises to 1 in 250, and for a 40-year-old mother, it increases to 1 in 70. The probability of issues such as miscarriage or premature birth also rises significantly.
According to Statistics Korea, the average age of first marriage in 2022 was 33.7 for men and 31.3 for women. According to a survey by the marriage information company ‘Duo’, it was 36.9 for men and 33.9 for women. According to the OECD’s ‘2022 Korea Economic Report’, the average age of first pregnancy was 32.3 as of the end of 2020. This average age may be subject to statistical illusion. According to the Statistics Korea National Statistics Portal (KOSIS), while there were 10,113 women in their early 20s who married in 2022, there were 10,949 women in their early 40s. Although this figure includes remarriages, it suggests that advanced maternal age is quite common on average.
However, the medical community pointed out that the rate of severe physical congenital anomalies among newborns—the kind the public typically thinks of—is around 3%. The medical community interpreted that increased interest in fetal health and advancements in diagnostic technology have had a greater impact on the rising rate of congenital anomalies. They noted that many of the conditions classified as congenital anomalies can be corrected with simple surgery or resolve naturally as the child grows.
Nevertheless, the newspaper explained that in a situation where pediatric clinics are steadily decreasing, the risks associated with late marriage and advanced maternal age, such as premature birth or multiple pregnancies (twins), cannot be ignored. The newspaper reported, "According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of premature infants born last year was 10,633, marking the second consecutive year in the 10,000s, and the number of multiple births was 7,159, the highest in the last five years."
Furthermore, the newspaper stated that since this statistic only targets newborns, it does not include disabilities or congenital anomalies that appear during the growth process. This means it does not include psychiatric or neurological issues that manifest as one grows up.
Source: Last year's congenital anomaly rate was 28.5%... Average age of first pregnancy rising to 32 'Jayu Ilbo' Online communities and social media rumors suggested the rate of congenital anomalies among newborns reached 20%. However, the actual rate was found to be higher. The cause is said to be that more anomalies can be detected due to advanced diagnostic technology along with advanced maternal age. ‘Money Today’ reported on the 19th, "As a result of analyzing data obtained through the National Assembly and the National Health Insurance Service, the congenital...