Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]

Background Research undertaken using the Born in Bradford cohort study identified consanguinity as a major risk factor for congenital anomalies and also reported longer term adverse health outcomes associated with consanguinity. Methods We report the prevalence of consanguinity from two cohort studi...

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Main Authors: Brian Kelly, John Wright, Neil Small
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wellcome 2024-11-01
Series:Wellcome Open Research
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Online Access:https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-222/v2
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author Brian Kelly
John Wright
Neil Small
author_facet Brian Kelly
John Wright
Neil Small
author_sort Brian Kelly
collection DOAJ
description Background Research undertaken using the Born in Bradford cohort study identified consanguinity as a major risk factor for congenital anomalies and also reported longer term adverse health outcomes associated with consanguinity. Methods We report the prevalence of consanguinity from two cohort studies in the same geographical area with a nine year gap: Born in Bradford (BiB) and Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS). We examine and compare rates of consanguinity and the characteristics of the consanguineous in each study population to examine if and how these have changed in the years between the recruitment periods of 2007–2010 (BiB) and 2016–2019 (BiBBS). Results There had been a substantial decrease in consanguineous unions in women of Pakistani heritage, the proportion of women who were first cousins with the father of their baby fell from 39.3% to 27.0%, and those who were other blood relations fell from 23.1% to 19.3%. Only 37.6% of Pakistani heritage women were unrelated to the father of their baby in BiB, but 53.7% were unrelated in BiBBS. All but one White British respondent was unrelated to their baby’s father in both cohorts, and around 90% of the ‘Other ethnicities’ group (i.e., not White British or Pakistani heritage) were unrelated to the baby’s father in both cohorts. The reduction was most marked in women of Pakistani heritage who were born in the UK, in those educated to A level or higher and in women under age 25. Conclusions An appreciation of changing rates of consanguinity and linked health needs will be valuable to those who commission and provide antenatal, paediatric and genetic services in Bradford and in other areas where consanguinity is likely to be a major risk factor. Falling rates in this city may reflect wider changes in partner choices in similar populations.
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spelling doaj-art-4d4336d3ca284a5d94aee6f2d23278782025-08-20T02:50:29ZengWellcomeWellcome Open Research2398-502X2024-11-01910.12688/wellcomeopenres.21121.225901Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]Brian Kelly0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1834-2992John Wright1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9572-7293Neil Small2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4426-3596Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, England, UKBradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, England, UKFaculty of Health Studies, University of Bradford, Bradford, England, UKBackground Research undertaken using the Born in Bradford cohort study identified consanguinity as a major risk factor for congenital anomalies and also reported longer term adverse health outcomes associated with consanguinity. Methods We report the prevalence of consanguinity from two cohort studies in the same geographical area with a nine year gap: Born in Bradford (BiB) and Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS). We examine and compare rates of consanguinity and the characteristics of the consanguineous in each study population to examine if and how these have changed in the years between the recruitment periods of 2007–2010 (BiB) and 2016–2019 (BiBBS). Results There had been a substantial decrease in consanguineous unions in women of Pakistani heritage, the proportion of women who were first cousins with the father of their baby fell from 39.3% to 27.0%, and those who were other blood relations fell from 23.1% to 19.3%. Only 37.6% of Pakistani heritage women were unrelated to the father of their baby in BiB, but 53.7% were unrelated in BiBBS. All but one White British respondent was unrelated to their baby’s father in both cohorts, and around 90% of the ‘Other ethnicities’ group (i.e., not White British or Pakistani heritage) were unrelated to the baby’s father in both cohorts. The reduction was most marked in women of Pakistani heritage who were born in the UK, in those educated to A level or higher and in women under age 25. Conclusions An appreciation of changing rates of consanguinity and linked health needs will be valuable to those who commission and provide antenatal, paediatric and genetic services in Bradford and in other areas where consanguinity is likely to be a major risk factor. Falling rates in this city may reflect wider changes in partner choices in similar populations.https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-222/v2cohort studies consanguinity congenital anomalies Pakistani heritageeng
spellingShingle Brian Kelly
John Wright
Neil Small
Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
Wellcome Open Research
cohort studies
consanguinity
congenital anomalies
Pakistani heritage
eng
title Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_fullStr Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_full_unstemmed Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_short Changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in Bradford, UK  – evidence from two cohort studies [version 2; peer review: 1 approved, 2 approved with reservations]
title_sort changes in prevalence and patterns of consanguinity in bradford uk evidence from two cohort studies version 2 peer review 1 approved 2 approved with reservations
topic cohort studies
consanguinity
congenital anomalies
Pakistani heritage
eng
url https://wellcomeopenresearch.org/articles/9-222/v2
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