A Multicenter Clinical Analysis of Cleft Lip and Palate: Clinical Features, Parental Background, and Associated Anomalies

ObjectiveTo provide a contemporary, multicenter clinical and epidemiologic overview of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) and to analyze associations with phenotype, Veau classification, parental characteristics, and perinatal factors.MethodsThis retrospective multicenter study included 2488 patients with CL/P treated between 2018 and 2022 at 11 tertiary referral centers in Türkiye. Demographic data, cleft phenotype, Veau classification, syndromic status, associated congenital anomalies, parental age, consanguinity, antenatal follow-up, teratogenic exposure, and perinatal complications were analyzed using descriptive and comparative statistics.ResultsA total of 2488 patients with CL/P were included. Combined cleft lip and palate (CLP) was the most common phenotype (44.8%), followed by cleft palate (CP only-34.3%) and cleft lip (CL only-20.9%). Syndromic or sequential conditions were present in 5.7% and associated congenital anomalies in 17.0%, most frequently cardiovascular defects (7.0%). Consanguinity was reported in 21.9% of families. Compared with CL and CLP, CP was characterized by female predominance and significantly higher rates of syndromic involvement, associated anomalies, and perinatal complications. These associations remained significant in multivariable analysis. Among patients with CP, incomplete CP (Veau I-II) was independently associated with female sex, syndromic status, and perinatal complications. Higher maternal and paternal ages were associated with nonpreterm perinatal complications but not with preterm birth.ConclusionsCP only represents a distinct clinical and epidemiologic entity with a higher syndromic and comorbidity burden. This large multicenter cohort provides updated reference data for contemporary cleft research and supports subtype-specific evaluation and multidisciplinary management.Level of evidenceLevel III-Prognostic/Etiologic Evidence (Retrospective Cohort Study).