Key result
High-risk and low-risk pregnancies showed a similar rate of positive findings on fetal echocardiography (65.77% vs 63.76%, p=0.738), indicating that routine screening may be beneficial for all pregnancies.
Why the study?
The study was conducted to assess the role of fetal echocardiography in identifying antenatal cardiac defects in a tertiary care centre in North India.
Does routine fetal echocardiography detect a different rate of congenital heart disease in high-risk versus low-risk pregnancies?
Cohort (n=250)
No
Does routine fetal echocardiography detect a different rate of congenital heart disease in high-risk versus low-risk pregnancies?
Absolute Event Rate: 65.77% vs 63.76%
p-value: p=0.738
Routine fetal echocardiography detects a similar percentage of congenital heart defects in both high- and low-risk pregnancies, suggesting it could be offered to all antenatal patients if resources permit.
Findings do not support restricting fetal echocardiography to high-risk pregnancies; leaves open value of routine screening in low-risk groups.
Background: Aim of the study was to assess the role of fetal echocardiography in identification of antenatal cardiac defects in a tertiary care centre in North India. Methods: Prospective study done in a tertiary care centre in North India on female patients presenting to a tertiary care centre with pregnancy over a period of two years. All routine investigations were done and specific examination in the form of a screening fetal echocardiography was done in the selected two groups of patients, high and low risk. Results: A sample size of 250 patients with intrauterine pregnancy of 18-28 weeks of gestation was analyzed. A detailed history, examination and fetal echocardiography was performed in all the patients. In group I-105 patients with elevated risk factors (for congenital heart disease) (CHD) were included whereas in group II-145 patients with low risk factors were taken. The various demographic parameters among the two groups were almost similar. The outcome was also similar in two groups with nil neonatal mortality. Except for the NICU admission between the two groups, rest all the parameters whether maternal or neonatal were not statistically significant. Conclusions: In the present study, we tried to find out role of fetal echocardiography for detection of CHD in high and low risk cases. The results were almost similar in both high and low risk group. Indications of referral for fetal echocardiography cannot be listed as it was found that almost similar percentage of heart defects are seen in both groups I and II.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Gupta et al. (2023) conducted a cohort in Congenital heart disease screening (n=250). High risk for congenital heart disease vs. Low risk for congenital heart disease was evaluated on Presence of congenital heart disease (positive echocardiographic findings) (p=0.738). High-risk and low-risk pregnancies showed a similar rate of positive findings on fetal echocardiography (65.77% vs 63.76%, p=0.738), indicating that routine screening may be beneficial for all pregnancies.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: