Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcomes of Fetal Cardiac Arrhythmias

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Premature atrial contractions were the most common fetal arrhythmia (49.7%), and arrhythmia type was significantly associated with structural heart defects (P=0.001), with 74.2% overall fetal demise.

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Fetal cardiac arrhythmias (n=151). Intervention: Fetal cardiac arrhythmia vs. Different fetal arrhythmia subtypes. Primary outcome: Association between type of fetal arrhythmia and structural cardiac anomalies (p=0.001).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Premature atrial contractions are the most common fetal arrhythmia, and the specific type of fetal arrhythmia is significantly associated with structural congenital heart defects. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.CONFIRMATORY. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.SUPPORTS_CONSENSUS.

Maryam Yousefi; Mohammad Hossein Arjmandnia; Tahereh Firouzbakht; Mohammad Atarod; Mostafa Vahedian; Fatemeh Abolhassani; Mohammad Reza Razavi; Shadi Salamroudi; Abotaleb Mohammadi

doi:10.24200/jogcr.12.1.1

November 1, 2026Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology and Cancer ResearchOpen Access

Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcomes of Fetal Cardiac Arrhythmias

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Key result

Premature atrial contractions comprise ~50% of fetal arrhythmias, which significantly correlate with structural heart defects.

P=0.001
n=151

Key Points

To evaluate the frequency and specific types of fetal cardiac arrhythmias, their relationship with structural heart defects, and overall pregnancy outcomes.
Retrospective cross-sectional study of 151 pregnant women referred to a hospital echocardiography department in Qom between January 2020 and 2023.
Diagnoses were made using M-mode and pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography at a mean gestational age of 26.4±4.1 weeks.
Categorical variables were compared using SPSS (version 20) with chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant.
Premature atrial contractions (PAC) were the most common arrhythmia at 49.7% (n=75), followed by sinus tachycardia (19.2%), sinus bradycardia (11.3%), and complete heart block (7.3%).
A significant association was observed between arrhythmia type and cardiac abnormalities (P=0.001), with congenital heart defects detected in 46.4% and atrial septal defects in 27.8% of fetuses.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=151)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

P

Population

151 pregnant women (mean maternal age 28.5 years) carrying fetuses diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmias (47% female fetuses) at a mean gestational age of 26.4 weeks at a single center in Iran.

E

Exposure

Prenatal diagnosis and evaluation using Doppler echocardiography (M-mode in the four-chamber view and pulsed-wave Doppler primarily at the left ventricular inflow/outflow tract)

O

Outcome

Frequency and types of fetal arrhythmias, structural heart defects, and pregnancy clinical outcomes (fetal death/abortion, spontaneous resolution, or need for medical treatment)hard clinical

Main Result

p-value: p=0.001

While premature atrial contractions are the most frequent fetal arrhythmia, fetal arrhythmias accompanied by structural heart defects or hydrops fetalis carry a high rate of fetal demise or abortion, necessitating close echocardiographic monitoring.

Limitations

Retrospective single-center design
Small sample sizes for rare arrhythmias (such as SVT and second-degree AV block) limit interpretation
Potential referral bias at a tertiary center contributing to high observed fetal demise/abortion rates
Small sample sizes for rare arrhythmias (SVT and second-degree AV block) limit interpretation
Single-center referral population potentially affecting the high rate of fetal demise/abortion

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Implication

Fetal arrhythmias with structural defects show high demise risk warranting surveillance; leaves open prospective studies on risk stratification and management.

Abstract

Background & Objective: Fetal arrhythmias are recognized as an important problem in maternal-fetal medicine with possibly significant clinical implications. This study was conducted with aim to evaluate the frequency and types of fetal arrhythmias, structural heart defects, and pregnancy outcomes.Materials & Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 151 pregnant women who were referred to the echocardiography department of Hazrat Masoumeh Hospital in Qom from January 2020 to 2023. Fetal arrhythmias were diagnosed with Doppler echocardiography (M-mode and pulsed-wave). All data were analyzed using SPSS (version 20) and chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. P<0.05 was considered significant.Results: The mean maternal age was 28.5±5.2 years, and the mean gestational age at echocardiography was 26.4±4.1 weeks. The most common fetal arrhythmia was PAC (49.7%). Other arrhythmias included sinus tachycardia (19.2%), sinus bradycardia (11.3%), and complete heart block (7.3%). There was a significant relationship between the type of arrhythmia and cardiac abnormalities (P=0.001). The fetal demise/abortion rate was 74.2%, and was greater in the group with hydrops (31.8%) and congenital heart disorders (46.4%).Conclusion: While PAC was the most common fetal arrhythmia, seriously complicated arrhythmias such as complete heart block and ventricular tachyarrhythmias with structural heart defects or hydrops were associated with the worst outcomes. These findings indicate the need for continued careful/close monitoring of fetal arrhythmias and an individualized approach to the management of cases with higher-risk features.

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Cite This Study

Yousefi et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Fetal cardiac arrhythmias (n=151). Fetal cardiac arrhythmia vs. Different fetal arrhythmia subtypes was evaluated on Association between type of fetal arrhythmia and structural cardiac anomalies (p=0.001). Premature atrial contractions were the most common fetal arrhythmia (49.7%), and arrhythmia type was significantly associated with structural heart defects (P=0.001), with 74.2% overall fetal demise.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aee01409d87f46bb8e69ebf https://doi.org/10.24200/jogcr.12.1.1

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Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcomes of Fetal Cardiac Arrhythmias

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Prenatal Diagnosis and Outcomes of Fetal Cardiac Arrhythmias

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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