Variation in Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease in Infants

Prenatal diagnosis allows improved perioperative outcomes for fetuses with certain forms of congenital heart disease (CHD). Variability in prenatal diagnosis has been demonstrated in other countries, leading to efforts to improve fetal imaging protocols and access to care, but has not been examined...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 2015-08, Vol.136 (2), p.e378-e385
Main Authors: Quartermain, Michael D, Pasquali, Sara K, Hill, Kevin D, Goldberg, David J, Huhta, James C, Jacobs, Jeffrey P, Jacobs, Marshall L, Kim, Sunghee, Ungerleider, Ross M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Babies
Care and treatment
Clinical outcomes
Congenital diseases
Congenital heart defects
Congenital heart disease
Diagnosis
Female
Health aspects
Health care access
Heart
Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnostic imaging
Heart Defects, Congenital - epidemiology
Heart surgery
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Infants
Male
Medical diagnosis
Pediatrics
Pregnancy
Prenatal care
Prenatal diagnosis
Surgery
Ultrasonography, Prenatal
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:Prenatal diagnosis allows improved perioperative outcomes for fetuses with certain forms of congenital heart disease (CHD). Variability in prenatal diagnosis has been demonstrated in other countries, leading to efforts to improve fetal imaging protocols and access to care, but has not been examined across the United States. The objective was to evaluate national variation in prenatal detection across geographic region and defect type in neonates and infants with CHD undergoing heart surgery. Cardiovascular operations performed in patients ≤6 months of age in the United States and included in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (2006-2012) were eligible for inclusion. Centers with >15% missing prenatal diagnosis data were excluded from the study. Prenatal diagnosis rates were compared across geographic location of residence and defect type using the χ(2) test. Overall, the study included 31,374 patients from 91 Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database participating centers across the United States. Prenatal detection occurred in 34% and increased every year, from 26% (2006) to 42% (2012). There was significant geographic variation in rates of prenatal diagnosis across states (range 11.8%-53.4%, P < .0001). Significant variability by defect type was also observed, with higher rates for lesions identifiable on 4-chamber view than for those requiring outflow tract visualization (57% vs 32%, P < .0001). Rates of prenatal CHD detection in the United States remain low for patients undergoing surgical intervention, with significant variability between states and across defect type. Additional studies are needed to identify reasons for this variation and the potential impact on patient outcomes.
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275
DOI:10.1542/peds.2014-3783