Evaluation of the frequency and types of structural heart disease in fetuses of pregnant women according to risk groups by fetal echocardiography

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of congenital heart diseases (CHD) encountered in low-risk and high-risk pregnant women by fetal echocardiographic (FE) examination. Material and Method: The records of 855 pregnant women with a gestational week greater than 16 who applied to the pediatric cardiology outpatient clinic of our hospital between July 2019- October 2021 and underwent FE were analyzed retrospectively. Results: CHD was detected in 109 (12.7%) of 855 pregnant women who were referred to our center and underwent FE examination. Frequency of CHD was given according to risk groups. The rate of CHD in patients in the high-risk group was 15.2%, while it was 9% in patients in the low-risk group (p=0.008). Significant CHD was 6.2% in the high-risk group versus 2.7% in the low-risk group (p=0.016). The most common structural cardiac anomaly in FE examination was ventricular septal defect (38.5% in 42 fetuses), and the second most common cardiac anomaly was atriyoventricular septal defect (18.3% in 20 fetuses). Conclusion: In our study, it was found a higher rate of CHD in pregnant women in the high-risk group than in the low-risk group and especially significant CHD was detected more common in pregnant women in the high-risk group.