Risk Factors for Ventricular Septal Defects in Murmansk County, Russia: A Registry-Based Study

Abstract

Cardiovascular malformations are one of the most common birth defects among newborns and constitute a leading cause of perinatal and infant mortality. Although some risk factors are recognized, the causes of cardiovascular malformations (CVMs) remain largely unknown. In this study, we aim to identify risk factors for ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in Northwest Russia. The study population included singleton births registered in the Murmansk County Birth Registry (MCBR) between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2011. Infants with a diagnosis of VSD in the MCBR and/or in the Murmansk Regional Congenital Defects Registry (up to two years post-delivery) constituted the study sample. Among the 52,253 infants born during the study period there were 744 cases of septal heart defects (SHDs), which corresponds to a prevalence of 14.2 [95% confidence interval (CI) of 13.2–15.3] per 1000 infants. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify VSD risk factors. Increased risk of VSDs was observed among infants born to mothers who abused alcohol [OR = 4.83; 95% CI 1.88–12.41], or smoked during pregnancy [OR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.02–1.80]. Maternal diabetes mellitus was also a significant risk factor [OR = 8.72; 95% CI 3.16–24.07], while maternal age, body mass index, folic acid and multivitamin intake were not associated with increased risk. Overall risks of VSDs for male babies were lower [OR = 0.67; 95% CI 0.52–0.88].

Clinical Significance of Heart Murmurs Detected During Routine Clinical Examination in the First Week of Life: A Descriptive Study

“…We have excluded neonates born of gestational age <36 weeks, this is not a community representation since gestational age and birth weight are important risk factors for septal defects. 23 Among the newborns with cardiac murmurs, 73.3% had CHD and a prevalence of 14 per 1,000 live births was observed. The intensity of the murmur was not related to the presence or absence of CHD.…”

“…22 This higher prevalence could be due to the high prevalence of associated risk factors such as male gender and gestational diabetes mellitus among Keralites. 23,24 Among ASD, ostium secundum was most commonly encountered (80%) and muscular VSD (80%) was commonly encountered among VSD. ASD accounts for 8-12% of all CHD, 25 most frequently reported ASD is PFO followed by ostium secundum defect.…”

The association between folic acid supplementation and congenital heart defects: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Specifically, 9 studies were obtained from the United States, 13 – 21 and another 9 studies were from Hungary. 22 – 30 The remaining 7 studies were from China; 31 – 37 3 studies from Netherlands; 38 – 40 2 studies from the United States and Canada; 41 , 42 2 studies from Norway; 43 , 44 1 study from Denmark and Norway; 45 1 study from Russia; 46 1 study from Northern Ireland; 47 1 study from Australia 48 and 1 study from India. 49 Regarding the study design of included studies, 27 (72.97%) are case–control studies.…”

Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health in the Border Areas of Euro-Arctic Barents Region: A Review of 30-Year Russian–Norwegian Research Collaboration Outcomes

“…All diagnoses were registered using the International Classification of Disease, namely, namely the ICD-10 system. Subsequently, the Murmansk County Birth Registry was established [10,11], which includes all births (N = 52,253) for the years 2006-2011. Although the registry was discontinued in 2012 for economic reasons, it has provided data for a number of Master and Ph.D. theses.…”