Maternal Risk Factors Predisposing to Congenital Heart Disease | Chapter 12 | Current Trends in Medicine and Medical Research Vol. 3
Background: Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) are defined as malformations of the heart and great vessels that develop in utero which may manifest at birth or later in childhood. They can be caused by numerous genetic and environmental factors. Genetic factors are nonmodifiable. However, identification of modifiable environmental risk factors is important to develop population based prevention strategies to reduce the incidence of CHD. Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to find an association of the maternal lifestyles with CHD in new-borns. The secondary outcome of the study was to identify maternal factors that can be modified for the primary prevention of CHD. Materials and Methods: This prospective study involved cardiovascular system examination of newborns after delivery in term gestations in 1...