发病率及统计报告病例的方式有地理差异(即基于人群或临床的研究、主动或被动监测)。报告的比率包括:发病率、患病率或出生患病率(即具体时间窗内,生来就有先天异常的儿童的数量与每 1000 例出生的活产儿总人数相比)。
胎儿酒精谱系障碍会影响各种族,但各国影响比率不尽相同。与酒精相关的出生缺陷和酒精相关的神经发育异常比较,胎儿酒精综合征要更经常被报告,其诊断较难。比率趋势和变化可能会反映出医务人员对疾病谱的认识。
整体来看,美国胎儿酒精谱系障碍出生缺陷率估计是千分之十,胎儿酒精综合征是千分之零点五到千分之二。[4]May PA, Gossage JP. Estimating the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome. A summary. Alcohol Res Health. 2001;25:159-167.http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-3/159-167.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11810953?tool=bestpractice.com美国比率在西南部平原的美洲印第安人中最高(9.8/1000),在亚裔美国人中最低(0.03/1000)。[4]May PA, Gossage JP. Estimating the prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome. A summary. Alcohol Res Health. 2001;25:159-167.http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh25-3/159-167.htmhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11810953?tool=bestpractice.com在其他地方,南非一年级儿童胎儿酒精综合征的患病率为40-89/1000[5]Urban M, Chersich MF, Fourie LA, et al. Fetal alcohol syndrome among grade-one schoolchildren in Northern Cape Province: prevalence and risk factors. S Afr Med J. 2008;98:877-882.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/viewFile/1528/2169http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19177895?tool=bestpractice.com[6]May PA, Gossage JP, Marais AS, et al. The epidemiology of fetal alcohol syndrome and partial FAS in a South African community. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2007;88:259-271.http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pubmed&pubmedid=17127017http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17127017?tool=bestpractice.com马尼托巴湖每 1000 例活产儿中 7.2 例,[7]Williams RJ, Odaibo FS, McGee JM. Incidence of fetal alcohol syndrome in northeastern Manitoba. Can J Public Health. 1999;90:192-194.http://journal.cpha.ca/index.php/cjph/article/view/1079/1079http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10401171?tool=bestpractice.com澳大利亚每 1000 例活产儿中 0.06-0.68 例,[8]Bower C, Silva D, Henderson TR, et al. Ascertainment of birth defects: the effect on completeness of adding a new source of data. J Paediatr Child Health. 2000;36:574-576.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11115034?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Elliott EJ, Payne J, Morris A, et al. Fetal alcohol syndrome: a prospective national surveillance study. Arch Dis Child. 2008;93:732-737.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17704098?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Harris KR, Bucens IK. Prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in the top end of the Northern Territory. J Paediatr Child Health. 2003;39:528-533.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12969208?tool=bestpractice.com以及意大利一年级儿童3.7- 7.4 / 1000。[11]May PA, Fiorentino D, Gossage JP, et al. Epidemiology of FASD in a province in Italy: prevalence and characteristics of children in a random sample of schools. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2006;30:1562-1575.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16930219?tool=bestpractice.com澳大利亚的发病率是每年每1000个5岁以下的孩子中有1.14个。[9]Elliott EJ, Payne J, Morris A, et al. Fetal alcohol syndrome: a prospective national surveillance study. Arch Dis Child. 2008;93:732-737.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17704098?tool=bestpractice.com澳大利亚的一项研究显示,高风险原住民人群中的比率可能很高。[12]Fitzpatrick JP, Latimer J, Carter M, et al. Prevalence of fetal alcohol syndrome in a population-based sample of children living in remote Australia: the Lililwan Project. J Paediatr Child Health. 2015;51:450-457.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25594247?tool=bestpractice.com