A study published in Prenatal Diagnosis investigates the role of second-trimester ultrasounds in addressing insurance-related disparities in the prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). Conducted by Joyce L. Woo, M.D., and colleagues at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, the study analyzed electronic health records of pregnant women whose infants required CHD surgery between 2019 and 2020. The findings revealed that public insurance was associated with a 12.6% lower probability of prenatal CHD diagnosis, as well as a 13.2% lower likelihood of receiving a second-trimester ultrasound. However, once adjusted for the receipt of this ultrasound, the link between public insurance and prenatal diagnosis disappeared, suggesting that second-trimester ultrasound plays a significant role in mediating the disparity. The study demonstrated that second-trimester ultrasounds account for 39% of the gap in prenatal CHD diagnoses between publicly and privately insured women. These insights provide a clearer understanding of how insurance status influences prenatal care and diagnosis, with implications for policy changes aimed at reducing healthcare disparities. The researchers hope that integrating routine ultrasound measures into clinical practice could ensure more equitable prenatal care, reducing the barriers to timely and accurate CHD diagnosis for all pregnant women, regardless of insurance coverage.
