Adverse perinatal outcome and placental abnormalities in pregnancies with major fetal congenital heart defects: A retrospective case-control study

Objective The placental development has been shown to be compromised in pregnancies affected by fetal congenital heart defects (CHD). This study aimed to investigate the frequency of complications related to utero-placental insufficiency in pregnancies with and without major CHD. Method This retrospective case-control study was conducted at a Fetal Echocardiography Center in Milan. The following outcomes were compared between the two groups: preeclampsia (PE), small for gestational age (SGA), placental disorders and preterm birth (PTB). The logistic regression analysis was adjusted for maternal age, parity, co-morbidities and mode of conception. Results The CHD group (n = 480) showed significantly increased incidence of PE (2.9% vs 0.9%; aOR, 6.50; 95% CI, 1.39-30.41;P= .017) as compared to the control group (n = 456). Placental disorders occurred more frequently in the CHD than in controls, but the increased risk showed only a borderline significance (4.5% vs 3.3%; aOR, 2.56; 95% CI, 0.99-1.02;P= .046). There was a significantly higher risk of SGA in CHD than in controls (8.7% vs 3.9%; aOR, 3.37; 95% CI, 1.51-7.51;P= .003). PTB occurred in 65/477 (13.6%) cases and in 39/447 (8.7%) controls (P= .022) (aOR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.24-3.81;P= .007). Conclusion Major CHD are significantly associated with the risk of PE, SGA and PTB.