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Published on: March 10, 2020
[Risk factors for congenital heart disease in Chinese neonates: a Meta analysis]
1School of Public Health of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China. 18052268101@189.cn.
Insights
Maternal factors like advanced age, illness, and environmental exposures such as passive smoking and home decoration are significant risks for congenital heart disease (CHD) in Chinese newborns. Early prevention strategies should address these identified risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal health and developmental pediatrics.
- Public health and epidemiology.
- Environmental health and toxicology.
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a significant global health concern.
- Identifying risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies in neonates.
- Chinese neonates represent a specific population with unique risk profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the major risk factors for congenital heart disease (CHD) in Chinese neonates.
- To provide a scientific reference for the prevention of CHD in this population.
- To synthesize evidence from multiple case-control studies.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted for case-control studies published between 2001 and 2016.
- Data extraction and quality assessment using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were performed.
- Meta-analysis, sensitivity analysis, and Egger's test for publication bias were employed.
Main Results:
- Seventeen studies involving 2,930 cases and 4,952 controls were analyzed.
- Key risk factors identified include advanced maternal age, maternal illness (cold/fever), and early pregnancy medication use.
- Environmental factors like passive smoking, noise, radiation, home decoration, and pet raising, along with gestational diabetes and abnormal childbearing history, also significantly increased CHD risk.
Conclusions:
- Advanced maternal age, maternal illness, and medication use during early pregnancy are significant risk factors for CHD.
- Environmental exposures, including passive smoking, noise, radiation, and home decoration, are associated with increased CHD risk.
- Gestational diabetes and a history of abnormal childbearing also contribute to the risk of congenital heart disease in neonates.
Objective:
To investigate the major risk factors for congenital heart disease (CHD) in Chinese neonates and to provide a reference for the prevention of CHD.
Methods:
A literature search was performed to collect the case-control studies on the risk factors for CHD in Chinese neonates published in 2001-2016. The relevant data were extracted accordingly. The quality of included studies was assessed by Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Sensitivity analysis was conducted using different models to analyze the same data. The publication bias was assessed by Egger's test.
Results:
A total of 17 case-control studies involving 2 930 cases and 4 952 controls were included. The Meta analysis showed that the major risk factors for CHD in Chinese neonates were as follows: mother with advanced age (OR=2.649, 95%CI: 1.675-4.189), cold or fever (OR=4.558, 95%CI: 2.901-7.162), medication use in early pregnancy (OR=3.961, 95%CI: 2.816-5.573), passive smoking (OR=2.766, 95%CI: 1.982-3.859), abnormal childbearing history (OR=2.992, 95%CI: 1.529-5.856), noise exposure (OR=3.030, 95%CI: 1.476-6.217), radiation exposure (OR=2.363, 95%CI: 1.212-4.607), decoration (OR=4.979, 95%CI: 3.240-7.653), gestational diabetes (OR=5.090, 95%CI: 3.132-8.274), and pet raising (OR=2.048, 95%CI: 1.385-3.029).
Conclusions:
Mothers with advanced age, cold or fever, medication use in early pregnancy, passive smoking, abnormal childbearing history, noise exposure, radiation exposure, decoration, gestational diabetes, and pet raising may increase the risk of CHD in Chinese neonates.

