Epidemiologic trends in penile anomalies and hypospadias in the state of California, 1985–2006

Abstract Purpose Using statewide data, we evaluated whether the changing incidence of penile anomalies and hypospadias is reflected in the diverse California population of newborn males over the past 20 years. Methods Discharge data from all California hospitals, prepared by the OSHPD (Sacramento, CA) was reviewed for the years 1985–2006 for male infant births with an ICD-9 code (752.6) for hypospadias, epispadias or other penile anomalies. Trends were examined by Generalized Estimation Equations for Poisson regression. Results From 1985 to 2006, the birth incidence of newborn penile anomalies increased in California from 47 to 57 cases per 10,000 newborn discharges, yet the trend for hypospadias alone appears stable from 1997. The rates for penile anomalies in newborns increased 1.4% annually ( p