Maternal Risk Factors Predisposing to Congenital Heart Disease: A study in South India

Background: Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) are defined as malformations of the heart and great vessels that develop in utero which may manifest at birth or later in childhood. They can be caused by numerous genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors are nonmodifiable. However, identification of modifiable environmental risk factors is important to develop population based prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of CHD.

Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to find an association of the maternal lifestyles with CHD in new-borns. The secondary outcome of the study was to identify maternal factors that can be modified for the primary prevention of CHD.

Materials and Methods: This prospective study involved cardiovascular system examination of newborns after delivery in term gestations in 1394 singleton pregnancies. The maternal risk factors considered were age, prepregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI), consanguineous marriage, caffeine intake, diabetes, stress and intake of periconceptional Folic acid tablets.

Results: In this study, 22 (1.58%) out of 1394 pregnancies resulted in Congenital Heart Defects. Teenage pregnancy (p value= 0.0002), consanguineous marriage (p value=0.0004), overt diabetes mellitus (p value=0.0001), caffeine intake (p value=0.0031), prepregnancy BMI>24(p value=0.0001), maternal stress (p value<0.0001, history of previous congenital malformations (p value=0.004) and non intake of folic acid tablets in the first trimester (p value=0.0023 were found to be the most likely risk factor associated with CHD.

Conclusion: Community education programmes should be initiated in the high-risk population to prevent teenage pregnancies and consanguineous marriages. Maternal counseling for periconceptional control of blood glucose, adequate weight maintenance, intake of folic acid tablets, avoidance of stress and caffeine is needed to prevent CHD.