Objectives: To assess at a population‐based level the frequency with which severe structural congenital malformations are detected prenatally in Europe and the gestational age at detection, and to describe regional variation in these indicators.Methods: In the period 1995–1999, data were obtained from 17 European population‐based registries of congenital malformations (EUROCAT). Included were all live births, fetal deaths and terminations of pregnancy diagnosed with one or more of the following malformations: anencephalus, encephalocele, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, transposition of great arteries, hypoplastic left heart, limb reduction defect, bilateral renal agenesis, diaphragmatic hernia, omphalocele and gastroschisis.Results: The 17 registries reported 4366 cases diagnosed with the 11 severe structural malformations and of these 2300 were live births (53%), 181 were fetal deaths (4%) and 1863 were terminations of pregnancy (43%); in 22 cases pregnancy outcome was unknown. The overall prenatal detection rate was 64% (range, 25–88% across regions). The proportion of terminations of pregnancy varied between regions from 15% to 59% of all cases. Gestational age at discovery for prenatally diagnosed cases was less than 24 weeks for 68% (range, 36–88%) of cases. There was a significant relationship between high prenatal detection rate and early diagnosis (P < 0.0001). For individual malformations, the prenatal detection rate was highest for anencephalus (469/498, 94%) and lowest for transposition of the great arteries (89/324, 27%). Termination of pregnancy was performed in more than half of the prenatally diagnosed cases, except for those with transposition of the great arteries, diaphragmatic hernia and gastroschisis, in which 30–40% of the pregnancies with a prenatal diagnosis were terminated.Conclusion: European countries currently vary widely in the provision and uptake of prenatal screening and its quality, as well as the ‘culture’ in terms of decision to continue the pregnancy. This inevitably contributes to variation between countries in perinatal and infant mortality and in childhood prevalence and cost to health services of congenital anomalies. Copyright © 2004 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum is a complex developmental disorder characterised mainly by anomalies of the ear, hemifacial microsomia, epibulbar dermoids and vertebral anomalies. The aetiology is largely unknown, and the epidemiological data are limited and inconsistent. We present the largest population-based epidemiological study to date, using data provided by the large network of congenital anomalies registries in Europe. The study population included infants diagnosed with oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum during the 1990–2009 period from 34 registries active in 16 European countries. Of the 355 infants diagnosed with oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum, there were 95.8% (340/355) live born, 0.8% (3/355) fetal deaths, 3.4% (12/355) terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly and 1.5% (5/340) neonatal deaths. In 18.9%, there was prenatal detection of anomaly/anomalies associated with oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum, 69.7% were diagnosed at birth, 3.9% in the first week of life and 6.1% within 1 year of life. Microtia (88.8%), hemifacial microsomia (49.0%) and ear tags (44.4%) were the most frequent anomalies, followed by atresia/stenosis of external auditory canal (25.1%), diverse vertebral (24.3%) and eye (24.3%) anomalies. There was a high rate (69.5%) of associated anomalies of other organs/systems. The most common were congenital heart defects present in 27.8% of patients. The prevalence of oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum, defined as microtia/ear anomalies and at least one major characteristic anomaly, was 3.8 per 100 000 births. Twinning, assisted reproductive techniques and maternal pre-pregnancy diabetes were confirmed as risk factors. The high rate of different associated anomalies points to the need of performing an early ultrasound screening in all infants born with this disorder.

Objective: To explore the prescribing patterns of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) before, during and after pregnancy in six European population‐based databases.Design: Descriptive drug utilisation study.Setting: Six electronic healthcare databases in Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy (Emilia Romagna/Tuscany), Wales and the rest of the UK.Population: All women with a pregnancy ending in a live or stillbirth starting and ending between 2004 and 2010.Methods: A common protocol was implemented across databases to identify SSRI prescriptions issued (UK) or dispensed (non‐UK) in the year before, during or in the year following pregnancy.Main outcome measures: The percentage of deliveries in which the woman received an SSRI prescription in the year before, during or in the year following pregnancy. We also compared the choice of SSRIs and changes in prescribing over the study period.Results: In total, 721 632 women and 862 943 deliveries were identified. In the year preceding pregnancy, the prevalence of SSRI prescribing was highest in Wales [9.6%; 95% confidence interval (CI₉₅), 9.4–9.8%] and lowest in Emilia Romagna (3.3%; CI₉₅, 3.2–3.4%). During pregnancy, SSRI prescribing had dropped to between 1.2% (CI₉₅, 1.1–1.3%) in Emilia Romagna and 4.5% (CI₉₅, 4.3–4.6%) in Wales. The higher UK pre‐pregnancy prescribing rates resulted in higher first trimester exposures. After pregnancy, SSRI prescribing increased most rapidly in the UK. Paroxetine was more commonly prescribed in the Netherlands and Italian regions than in Denmark and the UK.Conclusions: The higher SSRI prescribing rates in the UK, compared with other European regions, raise questions about differences in the prevalence and severity of depression and its management in pregnancy across Europe.