Universal Screening for CCHD in Saudi Arabia: The Road to a 'State of the Art' Program

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) affects approximately 3 in 1000 live births, posing significant risks for newborn morbidity and mortality.
• Pulse Oximetry Screening (POS) is a validated, highly specific, and moderately sensitive tool for early CCHD detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation and outcomes of the Universal Screening Program for CCHD using Pulse Oximetry in Saudi Arabia.
• To highlight the success factors and challenges in a national newborn screening program within a high-income country context.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a national Universal Screening Program for CCHD using Pulse Oximetry starting in 2016.
• Screening of over 900,000 newborns across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Main Results:

• Successful nationwide implementation of CCHD screening, demonstrating the feasibility of POS in a large population.
• Significant number of lives saved through early detection and intervention facilitated by the screening program.

Conclusions:

• Saudi Arabia's successful CCHD screening program, initiated in 2016, underscores the effectiveness of thorough preparation and technological advancement.
• The program serves as a model for developing countries, showcasing POS as a safe, non-invasive, and cost-effective method for newborn heart defect detection.