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Published on: April 7, 2023
Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease
Matthew E Oster1, Lazaros Kochilas1
1Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Insights
Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening is nearly universal in the US. While effective, most newborns with low oxygen saturation do not have CCHD, necessitating further research for optimal screening guidelines.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) screening was added to the US Recommended Uniform Screening Panel in 2011.
- CCHD screening using pulse oximetry is now nearly universal for newborns in the United States.
- Various screening algorithms are currently employed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness and challenges of current CCHD screening protocols.
- To identify areas for improvement in newborn screening for critical congenital heart disease.
- To explore the need for specialized guidelines in specific birth settings.
Main Methods:
- Review of CCHD screening implementation and outcomes in the United States.
- Analysis of pulse oximetry data in newborn populations.
- Identification of common screening algorithms and their variations.
Main Results:
- Newborn screening for CCHD has achieved near-universal adoption in the US.
- Most newborns identified with low oxygen saturation during screening do not have CCHD.
- Current screening protocols face challenges in diverse settings.
Conclusions:
- While CCHD screening is widespread, its effectiveness in identifying affected infants requires ongoing evaluation.
- Further research is essential to refine screening guidelines for special populations and settings.
- Optimizing CCHD screening protocols is crucial for improving early detection and management of critical congenital heart disease.
Abstract:
Screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) was added to the United States Recommended Uniform Screening Panel in 2011. Since that time, CCHD screening with pulse oximetry has become nearly universal for newborns born in the United States. There are various algorithms in use. Although the goal of the screening program is to identify children who may have CCHD, most newborns who have a low oxygen saturation will not have CCHD. Further study is needed to determine optimal guidelines for CCHD screening in special settings such as the neonatal intensive care unit, areas in high altitude, and home births.
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