Key result
Standardized guidelines and emerging technologies could boost prenatal CHD diagnosis rates by reducing socioeconomic disparities.
Why the study?
To summarize sources of variation in prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease in the United States and low- and middle-income countries, and review interventions aimed at reducing this variation.
Addressing socioeconomic disparities and clinical practice variation, alongside utilizing standardized guidelines and emerging technologies like tele-echocardiography and artificial intelligence, could reduce unwarranted variation and increase prenatal congenital heart disease diagnosis rates.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Persistent gaps in prenatal CHD diagnosis highlight need for targeted screening; leaves open optimal interventions to reduce global variation.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To summarize sources of variation in prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the United States and low- and middle-income countries, and to review current and emerging interventions aimed at reducing this variation. RECENT FINDINGS: In the United States, approximately half of infants requiring cardiac surgery before 6 months of age receive a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease. There is substantial variation in this rate domestically and globally. This variation reflects two primary contributors: socioeconomic disparities and clinical practice variation. Strategies to reduce unwarranted variation include standardized ultrasonography guidelines, local policy interventions, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and tele-echocardiography. Successful prenatal cardiac diagnosis encompasses three domains: (1) accessing fetal cardiac care, (2) obtaining accurate anatomic assessment, and (3) and receiving comprehensive counseling. Addressing socioeconomic disparities and clinical practice variation could reduce overall variation and increase prenatal diagnosis rates.
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Lemley et al. (2026) conducted a review in Congenital heart disease. Prenatal diagnosis and counseling strategies was evaluated. Addressing socioeconomic disparities and clinical practice variation through standardized guidelines, local policies, and emerging technologies could reduce overall variation and increase prenatal congenital heart disease diagnosis rates.
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