A new press release out this week from the American Heart Association (AHA) reports an increased risk of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in babies whose mothers had pre-pregnancy high blood pressure (hypertension) or diabetes. The finding comes from U.S. birth certificate data analyzed in an unpublished research abstract that will be presented at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 on November 6-9.
Data from over 44 million U.S. births from 2018-2024 showed that the prevalence of these heart defects increased by 10% throughout the study period alongside a 48% increase in maternal chronic hypertension, linking pre-pregnancy blood pressure management to infant heart health.
Neonatal CCHD is the most severe form of congenital heart disease and requires surgery or a catheter during the first year of life, as well as ongoing medical care that puts strain on families and children who are affected.
A team of scientists led by Dr. Saad Ur Rahman at Beth Israel Lahey Health in Burlington, Massachusetts, explored how maternal health before or during pregnancy may impact the risk of CCHD in offspring. They studied women with chronic hypertension, diagnosed before 20 weeks of pregnancy, ...