A study conducted by City St George’s, University of London, and published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology, reveals a 16% increase in babies born with congenital heart defects after the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Congenital heart defects, the most common type of birth anomaly, impact approximately 13 babies daily in the UK and 1 in 110 births globally. These conditions include abnormalities in heart valves, blood vessels near the heart, and the presence of holes in the heart.
Researchers analyzed data from over 18 million births in the U.S., sourced from CDC birth certificates between December 2016 and November 2022. They compared congenital heart defect rates from pre-pandemic years (December 2016 to November 2019) with those during the pandemic (December 2020 to November 2022). To ensure the findings were not influenced by external factors like disrupted healthcare access, rates of Down Syndrome—a condition unaffected by viral infections—were also examined.
The analysis included over 11 million births pre-pandemic and 7 million births during the pandemic. After accounting for factors such as maternal BMI, diabetes, age, blood pressure, and timing of prenatal care, the study found a rise from 56.5 to 65.4 cases of congenital heart defects per 100,000 live births during the pandemic. Down Syndrome rates remained unchanged, ruling out healthcare disruptions as the primary cause.
Lead author Professor Asma Khalil emphasized the need for further research to determine if the SARS-CoV-2 virus directly affects fetal heart development. The findings underline the importance of COVID-19 vaccinations for pregnant women, particularly as the virus continues to circulate, especially during winter months. Further global studies are necessary to explore whether similar trends exist elsewhere.
