Birth defects contribute significantly to chronic disease morbidity and related medical costs.
American Indians appear to be at high risk for fetal alcohol syndrome. The primary objective of the BDMP, which was established at CDC in December 1974, is to serve as an early warning system for detecting changes or unusual trends in the rates of congenital anomalies in the United States. The BDMP monitors 161 diagnoses, including structural, chromosomal, biochemical, and genetic disorders. At each hospital, staff members of the medical records department review the chart of each newborn or stillborn delivered, prepare a case abstract, and send it to CPHA for processing. These data represent the largest source of information available on malformed infants born in the United States.