The pandemic appears to have caused an uptick in newborn heart abnormalities.
Research has revealed a concerning increase in the number of babies born with congenital heart defects following the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent study conducted by experts at City St George’s, University of London, and published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, the rate of congenital heart issues rose by 16% during the pandemic years. This increase has raised concerns about the potential impact of the virus on fetal development.
Congenital heart defects, which are among the most common types of birth abnormalities, affect one in 110 births worldwide. These defects can range from issues with the heart’s valves to structural problems involving the major blood vessels or even holes within the heart itself. Typically, in the UK alone, around 13 babies each day are diagnosed with these conditions.
The study, which analyzed data from over 18 million births in the United States, sought to determine how the pandemic affected the incidence of congenital heart conditions in newborns. Researchers looked at birth certificates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spanning from December 2016 to November 2022. They specifically compared birth data before the pandemic, from December 2016 to November 2019, with data during the pandemic, from December 2020 to November 2022.
The analysis not only included births with congenital heart defects but also examined the incidence of Down’s syndrome, a genetic condition unrelated to viral infections. This comparison allowed the team to identify whether the observed increase in heart defects could be attributed to COVID-19, or if it might stem from other factors such as disruptions in prenatal care during the pandemic.
The results showed that the rate of congenital heart defects increased from 56.5 cases per 100,000 live births before the pandemic to 65.4 per 100,000 births during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the rate of Down’s syndrome remained consistent throughout the study period, suggesting that the rise in heart defects was not merely due to disruptions in healthcare access.
These findings offer an unexpected insight into the pandemic’s potential effects on unborn babies, although the exact cause of the increase remains unclear. One possibility is that the SARS-CoV-2 virus itself could directly contribute to the development of heart defects, but further research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. In particular, scientists are keen to explore how the virus might influence fetal development and which mechanisms could be at play.
These results serve as a reminder of the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19, especially during the winter months when the virus is more likely to spread. Health professionals stress the importance of pregnant women getting vaccinated to protect both themselves and their unborn children. Vaccination remains a critical component in the fight against COVID and a go-to option for fending off its spread.
While the research has drawn attention to a new link between heart abnormalities at birth and the COVID virus, follow-up studies are needed to further understand the exact mechanisms behind the connections. Research might also expand their efforts to assess for a link between congenital heart defects and other viruses or COVID and other types of heart issues. As COVID-19 remains a part of daily life, it’s important that both pregnant women and their providers remain informed about potential risks, including the impact on fetal heart development, in order to ensure the best possible outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
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Pandemic linked to 16% rise in babies born with heart defects
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