Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography
09:31

Hemodynamic Precision in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography

Published on: January 27, 2023

Infants with single ventricle: a population-based epidemiological study

Eileen K Steinberger1, Charlotte Ferencz, Christopher A Loffredo

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA.

Teratology
|March 6, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Paternal alcohol and smoking are linked to single ventricle heart defects in infants. These environmental factors may play a role in the development of this rare congenital condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Congenital Heart Defects
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Single ventricle is a rare congenital cardiac defect.
  • It often occurs within complex cardiovascular abnormalities.
  • Epidemiologic associations are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate epidemiologic associations of single ventricle.
  • To evaluate infant, family, and parental exposure factors.
  • To analyze associations based on cardio-visceral situs.

Main Methods:

  • Population-based case-control study using Baltimore-Washington Infant Study (BWIS) data (1981-89).
  • Evaluated 55 infants with single ventricle against 3,572 controls.
  • Used odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals to measure associations.

Main Results:

  • Paternal alcohol consumption (OR=2.0) and smoking (OR=2.4) associated with all single ventricle cases.
  • Associations were stronger in infants with abnormal situs.
  • Maternal abortion history (OR=3.2) and paternal marijuana use (OR=2.2) also showed associations.

Conclusions:

  • Paternal smoking and alcohol consumption identified as potential risk factors.
  • Highlights the need to consider environmental factors in single ventricle pathogenesis.
  • Further research is warranted.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Assessing Intracardiac Vortices with High Frame-Rate Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging in Newborns07:13

Assessing Intracardiac Vortices with High Frame-Rate Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging in Newborns

Published on: December 22, 2023

Establishment and Confirmation of a Postnatal Right Ventricular Volume Overload Mouse Model06:04

Establishment and Confirmation of a Postnatal Right Ventricular Volume Overload Mouse Model

Published on: June 9, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm01:29

Assessment of Ventilation II: Respiratory Depth and Rhythm

Respiratory Depth
Respiratory depth measures the volume of air inhaled or exhaled during a breath. It can vary from shallow to deep and typically remains consistent when a person is at rest or asleep. Occasionally, individuals will automatically inhale deeply, known as sighing, which inflates the lungs with more air than normal breathing.
To assess respiratory depth, observe the degree of chest excursion or movement:
Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation01:19

Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation

Besides the pressure difference between the external environment and the lungs, the airflow rate and ease of pulmonary ventilation are also influenced by three other factors: surface tension of the fluid in the alveoli, compliance of the lungs, and airway resistance.
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Bias in Epidemiological Studies01:29

Bias in Epidemiological Studies

Biases can arise at various stages of research, from study design and data collection to analysis and interpretation. Recognizing and addressing these biases is essential to ensure the validity and reliability of epidemiological findings.Broadly speaking, biases in epidemiology fall into three main categories: selection bias, information bias, and confounding. A more detailed description of possible biases is:
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease01:29

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease

Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...