Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine (2021)

DOI 10.1080/14767058.2021.2004115

Received: 8 July 2021 / Accepted: 5 November 2021

Prenatal diagnosis of significant congenital heart disease and elective termination of pregnancy in Nevada

Authors

William N Evans, MD, Ruben J Acherman, Humberto Restrepo, MD, MPH

Source

Children’s Heart Center Nevada, 3006 S Maryland Parkway, Ste 690, Las Vegas, NV 89109, USA. Email: WNevans50@aol.com.

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the relationship between prenatal detection of significant congenital heart disease and elective termination of pregnancy over time in Nevada.

Methods: We identified those prenatally or post-natally diagnosed with significant congenital cardiovascular malformations in Nevada with birth dates or estimated delivery dates between July 2012 and June 2021.

Results: We identified 1246. Of 1246, 69 underwent fetal demise, 42 had elective termination, and 1135 were live-born. Of the 1135 live-born, 1090 had prenatal care, of which 718 (66%) overall had a prenatal diagnosis of significant congenital heart disease. However, prenatal detection statistically significantly increased over time from 45 to 82%, p ¼ .00001. Termination of pregnancy averaged 10% of those identified within the legal timeframe, and the rate did not statistically significantly increase with increasing prenatal detection rates, p ¼ .56. Of the 42 undergoing elective termination, 23 (55%) had syndromes or comorbidities vs. 280 (25%) of the 1135 live-births, p ¼ .0003.

Conclusions: In Nevada, despite a statistically significant increase in prenatal detection of significant congenital heart disease over time, termination of pregnancy rates did not increase. Nevertheless, those undergoing elective termination were more likely to have associated syndromes or comorbidities.

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