Core Concepts
Maternal obesity increases the risk of fetal congenital heart defects.
Abstract
The study analyzed the impact of maternal body mass index (BMI) on the risk of fetal congenital heart defects (CHD) using a 10-year registry data in Denmark. Key findings include:
- Risk of CHD increased with higher maternal BMI.
- Maternal obesity poses a significant risk for congenital malformations.
- Study design involved a cohort study of singleton pregnancies in Denmark.
- Identified CHD diagnoses in live births and in utero.
- Relative risk of CHD increased significantly with higher BMI.
- No significant association between high BMI and four severe CHD subtypes.
- Limitations include lack of data on pregestational diabetes and family history of CHD.
Stats
Compared to women with normal early-pregnancy BMI, the adjusted RR of having offspring with CHD increased significantly with increasing BMI.
Women with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m 2 had a strong fourfold increased risk of having offspring with an atrioventricular septal defect.
Among women with a BMI increase of ≥ 4 kg/m2 between pregnancies, there was a nonsignificant trend towards having an offspring with CHD.
Quotes
"The findings show it remains important to advise women that a high BMI is a risk factor for congenital malformations."
"Maternal obesity is associated with an increased risk of CHD in offspring."