Live-Born Major Congenital Heart Disease in Denmark

Abstract

Detection rates of major CHD improved during the study. This has led to increased TOP rates, with a subsequent 39% decrease in the live-birth incidence of major CHD.

The implementation of a nationwide anomaly screening programme improves prenatal detection of major cardiac defects: an 11‐year national population‐based cohort study

“…In our nationwide study, the prenatal detection rate of UVH increased from 50.4% to 82.8% after implementing the nationwide screening programme. The results are similar to reports from regional cohorts in the Czech Republic (from 33.6% to 83.2%) and The Netherlands (from 55.3% to 93.6%) and from recent nationwide data from Denmark (34.3% to 83.3%) . In our study, prenatal detection rates of TGA increased from 12.3% to 41.0%.…”

“…In our study, prenatal detection rates of TGA increased from 12.3% to 41.0%. These results were better than those in the Czech cohort (from 5.7% to 25.6%), and similar to those in the Dutch cohort (from 18.6% to 48%) and Danish cohort (4.3% to 41.0%) . All these programmes included structural anomaly screening between gestational weeks 18–20 or 18–22.…”

“…Interestingly, the live birth rate of UVH was also higher in Finland (2.9/10 000 live births; screening phase) than in Denmark (0.8/10 000) and the Paris region (1.5/10 000) . In our cohort, termination of pregnancy due to UVH occurred in 52% of cases; the corresponding values were 44.8% in Denmark and 62.7% in Paris . These results may indicate that the total prevalence of UVH in Finland may be higher than in Europe overall.…”

“…The total prevalence of UVH was 7.4/10 000 and is higher than previously reported (3.4/10 000 to 5.3/10 000) . In our study, one fetal cardiologist meticulously evaluated all fetal echocardiograms and autopsy reports.…”

“…National screening programmes of congenital structural anomalies are part of routine prenatal care in developed countries. Previous studies on the impact of anomaly screening programmes have examined regional cohorts; and nationwide data are scarce . Recent obstetric ultrasound guidelines incorporate screening of cardiac outflow tracks and the four‐chamber view to improve prenatal detection of critical cardiac outflow defects such as TGA .…”