Linking the Perinatal Environment to Neonatal Cardiovascular Outcomes

Cases of high-risk pregnancies continue to rise throughout the United States and globally, increasing rates of maternal and neonatal morbidity. Common pregnancy complications and morbidities include preterm birth, hypertensive disorders, fetal growth restriction, diabetes mellitus, and chorioamnionitis. Exposure to these perinatal conditions contributes to cardiac morbidities in the fetus and neonate, including altered cardiac growth, congenital heart disease, and cardiac dysfunction. Significant research has demonstrated lasting effects of these pregnancy complications, with increased rates of cardiac morbidities seen in children and adults after these perinatal exposures. The link between the perinatal environment and long-term outcomes has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this review is to discuss the current understanding of the implications of a high-risk pregnancy on fetal and neonatal cardiac development.