Objective:Presentation of diaphragmatic hernia in the CR in 1961 –2000.Analysis of prevalence of these defects in different groups by maternal age. Design:Retrospective demographic-epidemiological study. Setting:Institute for the Care of Mother and Child,Prague. Methods:The authors used data from nationwide registers of birth defects in neonates kept in the Institute of Health Information and Statistics of the CR during 1995 –2000.Epidemiological analysis o the incidence of diaphragmatic hernia in the CR during 1961 –2000 in newborn infants. Mathematical statistical analysis of prevalence of these defects by maternal age using the method of 95%confidence interval of probability. Results:In the CR during 1961 –2000 1321 cases of diaphragmatic hernia were recorded.The mean incidence of this defect during the entire period was 2.32 per 10 000 live born infants incl. prenatally diagnosed cases and terminated pregnancies.Including those it was 2.37 per 10 000 live born infants. Conclusion:The authors elaborated the mean incidence during the investigation period and in individual years in born children as well as prenatally diagnosed cases.Also an analysis of the prevalence of these defects by maternal age was made using the method of 95%confidence interval.The authors found a significantly higher risk of development of this defect in foetuses o women aged 38,42 years or older as compared with the population average.However an unequiwocally increased risk associated with more adwanced age was neither confimed nor ruled out.

        Key words: birth defect,congenital diaphragmatic hernia,incidence,Czech Republic,prenatal diagnosis,maternal age