Bmc Pediatr
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Using population-based linked records of births, deaths, birth defects and hospital admissions for children born 1980-1999 enables profiles of hospital morbidity to be created for each child. ⋯ To gain a true picture of the burden of hospital-based morbidity in childhood, admission records need to be linked for each child. We have been able to do this at a population level using birth defect cases ascertained by a birth defects registry. Our results showed a greater mean LOS and mean number of admissions per child admitted than previous studies. The results suggest there may be an opportunity for the children with a major birth defect to be monitored and seen earlier in the primary care setting for common childhood illnesses to avoid hospitalisation or reduce the LOS.