Which age group is at the highest risk for congenital malformations?

The highest risk for congenital malformations is in the infant age group. Congenital malformations, which are structural or functional abnormalities that are present at birth, can result from a variety of factors, including genetic, environmental, and maternal health-related issues during pregnancy.

Infants, being in the early stages of life, are particularly vulnerable as many congenital malformations develop during the first trimester of pregnancy, when critical organ systems are forming. Factors such as maternal exposure to teratogens (like drugs, alcohol, infections), genetic predispositions, and nutritional deficiencies can significantly elevate the risk of these conditions during this developmental period.

Newborns, while they exhibit these malformations, are essentially the result of conditions that occurred during gestation and therefore are not considered a separate age category for assessing risk. Adolescents and adults are less commonly associated with congenital malformations, as these conditions typically arise during prenatal development rather than being acquired in later life stages.