[Risk factors for congenital heart disease in Chinese neonates: a Meta analysis]

Yi Liu1, Bei Zhu, Lin Zhuo

  • 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.
Abstract