Risk factors of congenital heart diseases: A hospital-based case-control study in Isfahan, Iran

Improving knowledge towards risk factors for congenital heart disease (CHD) is important because of its high mortality and morbidity and trying for prevention of occurrence of CHD.

This case-control study was conducted on a total of 898 children with their mothers, who referred to the Clinic of Pediatric Cardiology of School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran, during the years of 2014 to 2016. Cases comprised of 464 children with CHD diagnosed by echocardiography and controls were 434 sex- and age-matched children without any evidence of CHD, who were admitted for a heart check-up at the same study period and in similar conditions. The children's parents completed check lists for collecting demographic characteristics, family history of CHD, history of obesity in mother, history of abortion and diseases in mother, use of medicine during pregnancy, exposure to teratogens during pregnancy, and children characteristics such as birth height and birth weight, etc.

Based on the results of data analyses with multiple logistic regression model [odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI)], history of obesity in mother before pregnancy, history of abortion, parental consanguinity, exposure to cigarette smoke during pregnancy, exposures to teratogens in the first trimester of the pregnancy, and use of medicine during pregnancy were associated with an increased odds of CHDs.

Results of this study emphasizes the use of policies that enhance pre-marital counseling, regular counseling during pregnancy, treatment of mothers' disease, and enhancing knowledge of women of childbearing age about exposure to certain teratogens for controlling risk factors of CHD.