This study described the hospital morbidity of 194,persons with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), born between 1973-1992, who were identified through a major referral center for Saskatchewan children with disabling conditions. Computerized provincial hospital separation data were obtained for 84% of 101 males and 77% of 93 females. Complete hospitalization histories were obtained for 128 patients, and partial histories for 29 patients. This data provided information on 1,556 hospitalizations from January 1, 1973 to November 30, 1992. At least 54% of study group members experienced morbidity as newborns, and 83% of all females and 91% of all males had experienced at least one other hospitalization (excluding the newborn stay) during their life (based on provincial data combined with information from patient follow-up and record reviews). By November 1992 (provincial data only), the mean number of hospitalizations (SD) for males and females age 15-19 years was 8.4 (7.0) and 10.2 (8.1), respectively. For children <5 years the mean (SD) was 6.0 (5.8) for males and 3.1 (4.7) for females. Age and sex-specific hospital separation rates for the FAS group (based only on provincial data pooled from fiscal years 1987-91) were compared to the 1989-90 Saskatchewan rates. The 95% confidence intervals for the rate ratios indicated significantly higher rates for both males and females with FAS <1 year, 1-4 years and 5-14 years of age, relative to children in general. Comparisons were made using Saskatchewan Registered Indian rates, since 88% of the study group was Aboriginal. The 95% confidence intervals indicated significantly higher rate ratios for males with FAS in all age groups, and for females with FAS age 5-14 years, relative to Registered Indians. The rate ratios for females <1 year and 1-4 years may not have achieved significance because of a possible bias toward underestimation, given the higher proportions of missing data in these groups. The results suggest the high rates of hospitalization in children with FAS are not explicable solely by factors associated with racial identity or ethnicity.

This study described the hospital morbidity of 194,persons with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), born between 1973-1992, who were identified through a major referral center for Saskatchewan children with disabling conditions. Computerized provincial hospital separation data were obtained for 84% of 101 males and 77% of 93 females. Complete hospitalization histories were obtained for 128 patients, and partial histories for 29 patients. This data provided information on 1,556 hospitalizations from January 1, 1973 to November 30, 1992. At least 54% of study group members experienced morbidity as newborns, and 83% of all females and 91% of all males had experienced at least one other hospitalization (excluding the newborn stay) during their life (based on provincial data combined with information from patient follow-up and record reviews). By November 1992 (provincial data only), the mean number of hospitalizations (SD) for males and females age 15-19 years was 8.4 (7.0) and 10.2 (8.1), respectively. For children <5 years the mean (SD) was 6.0 (5.8) for males and 3.1 (4.7) for females. Age and sex-specific hospital separation rates for the FAS group (based only on provincial data pooled from fiscal years 1987-91) were compared to the 1989-90 Saskatchewan rates. The 95% confidence intervals for the rate ratios indicated significantly higher rates for both males and females with FAS <1 year, 1-4 years and 5-14 years of age, relative to children in general. Comparisons were made using Saskatchewan Registered Indian rates, since 88% of the study group was Aboriginal. The 95% confidence intervals indicated significantly higher rate ratios for males with FAS in all age groups, and for females with FAS age 5-14 years, relative to Registered Indians. The rate ratios for females <1 year and 1-4 years may not have achieved significance because of a possible bias toward underestimation, given the higher proportions of missing data in these groups. The results suggest the high rates of hospitalization in children with FAS are not explicable solely by factors associated with racial identity or ethnicity.