OBJECTIVES: The prenatal detection rate of congenital heart disease (CHD) is low compared with other fetal malformations. Our aim was to evaluate the prenatal detection of CHD in Eastern Denmark. METHODS: Fetuses and infants diagnosed with CHD in the period 01.01.2008-31.12.2010 were assessed regarding prenatal detection rate and accuracy, as well as correlation with nuchal translucency (NT) thickness. RESULTS: Out of 86 121 infants, 831 were born with CHD (0.96%). The prenatal detection rate of 'all CHD' was 21.3%, of 'Major CHD' 47.4%. Full agreement between prenatal and postnatal/autopsy findings was found in 96% of prenatally detected diagnoses. An NT thickness >95(th) percentile was found in 15.0% fetuses with 'Major CHD'. Of 'Major CHDs' detected prenatally, 77% were picked up at the time of the malformation scan at weeks 18-21. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of 'Major CHDs' were detected prenatally. The prenatal cardiac diagnoses showed a high degree of accuracy. Increased NT thickness as a screening tool for CHD performed moderately but is an important high risk group for specialist examination. A minority of the prenatally detected CHDs was identified because of extra scans performed in high risk pregnancies.
OBJECTIVES: The prenatal detection rate of congenital heart disease (CHD) is low compared with other fetal malformations. Our aim was to evaluate the prenatal detection of CHD in Eastern Denmark. METHODS: Fetuses and infants diagnosed with CHD in the period 01.01.2008-31.12.2010 were assessed regarding prenatal detection rate and accuracy, as well as correlation with nuchal translucency (NT) thickness. RESULTS: Out of 86 121 infants, 831 were born with CHD (0.96%). The prenatal detection rate of 'all CHD' was 21.3%, of 'Major CHD' 47.4%. Full agreement between prenatal and postnatal/autopsy findings was found in 96% of prenatally detected diagnoses. An NT thickness >95(th) percentile was found in 15.0% fetuses with 'Major CHD'. Of 'Major CHDs' detected prenatally, 77% were picked up at the time of the malformation scan at weeks 18-21. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of 'Major CHDs' were detected prenatally. The prenatal cardiac diagnoses showed a high degree of accuracy. Increased NT thickness as a screening tool for CHD performed moderately but is an important high risk group for specialist examination. A minority of the prenatally detected CHDs was identified because of extra scans performed in high risk pregnancies.
Authors: L Noben; C Lempersz; E R van den Heuvel; Z Zhan; F P H A Vandenbussche; A B C Coumans; M C Haak; R Vullings; S G Oei; S A B Clur; J O E H van Laar Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-10-20 Impact factor: 3.752