International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 09/Apr/2024;37:e20240030.

Short Editorial

Is Pulse Oximetry a Reliable Method for Screening for Critical Congenital Heart Disease in Asymptomatic Neonates at 35 Weeks or More of Gestation?

DOI: 10.36660/ijcs.20240030

This Editorial is referred by the Research article "Prevalence of Critical Congenital Heart Disease Detected in the Pulse Oximetry Test in Asymptomatic Newborns, ≥35 Gestational Weeks, in a Maternity in Southern Brazil".

Congenital cardiovascular malformations (CCVMs) are structural abnormalities of the heart or blood vessels present during fetal life and at birth. From 2010 to 2017, the incidence of CCVMs was estimated at 9.4 cases per 1,000 live births in countries in Southeast Asia and the Northern Hemisphere. During the same period, rates in Brazil ranged from 9.7 (in the northern region) to 62.8 (in the southeastern region) per 1,000 live births, and similar values have been reported by the Global Burden of Disease. Variability in the incidence of CCVMs is explained by diagnostic challenges arising from its broad clinical spectrum, which ranges from asymptomatic to symptomatic heart disease with associated risk of mortality. Approximately 25% of all patients with CCVMs are considered critical and require intervention within the first year of life because of the life-threatening nature of CCVMs and the significant dependence on hospital-based medical care.^,

Congenital malformations are the second leading cause of death in children under 1 year of age and the third leading cause of death in people under 20 years of age in the last decade in Brazil.^,, Among these malformations, CCVMs account for nearly 50% of malformation-related deaths.^,,, Despite their high incidence and significant impact on mortality, CCVMs are deemed preventable causes of death since early therapeutic intervention could alter their outcome. The high mortality rate of CCVMs is due to the lack of prenatal and perinatal diagnoses, which hinders or delays effective treatment and results in death.^,,-