Spontaneous preterm birth and congenital heart defects: What is known?

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most prevalent congenital malformation and the leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity.1 Preterm birth, which occurs in 5---18% of newborns worldwide, is also a leading cause of childhood mortality and morbidity and is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.2 The combination of CHD and preterm birth results in even higher mortality and morbidity, with preterm children born with CHD having a 2---4-fold higher mortality 3 and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.Additionally, some CHD types are associated with delayed brain maturation, potentially exacerbating the negative effects of preterm birth on the brain.The study by Palma et al. 4 aims to clarify the crosstalk between CHD and preterm birth further.Using data from a single center, the authors found that 23% of newborns with CHD were preterm infants, and the presence of CHD E-mail address: