Descriptive Epidemiology of Cleft Lip and Palate in a Tertiary Hospi-tal in Kabul, Afghanistan

Background: Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) are frequent congenital anomalies with different characteristics globally. We aimed to describe the epidemiological patterns of CL/P in a tertiary hospital. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with CL/P in 2023 at Cure Hospital, Kabul, Afghanistan. We collected demographic characteristics, CL/P types, and potential risk factors, and analyzed them by IBM SPSS. Males made up (55.8%) and women (44.2%) of the total study population, indicating a slight male predominance. Results: Regarding types of CL; left-sided unilateral CLs were most common (33.0%), followed by bilateral (23.6%), and right-sided unilateral clefts (15.7%). Complete CLs were more recurrent (58.8%) than incomplete clefts (13.5%). Regarding CP, complete clefts were frequent (60.7%), while soft cleft palates accounted for (13.9%); submucosal clefts (1.9%) and uvula bifid (0.4%) were scarce. In (60.3%) of cases, alveolar were involved, and associated congenital anomalies were rare (1.5%). Between potential risk factors, consanguineous marriage was identified in (56.6%), and a positive family history in (29.2%), that it may suggest genetic predisposition. Complete cleft lips and palates were more frequent in males (33% and 35.2%, respectively) compared to females (25.8% and 25.5%). Conclusion: Findings revealed a high prevalence of left-sided unilateral clefts and male predominance, which is consistent with trends, but with a relatively lower prevalence of alveolar clefts compared to international data. The high proportion of consanguinity as potential risk factors underscores the importance of community education and genetic counseling to reduce the burden of CL/P in the region.