Recent research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation indicates that newborns with congenital heart defects (CHD) may have a substantially elevated risk of developing childhood cancer compared to infants without heart abnormalities.
The study, which analyzed health data from more than 3.5 million live births in Korea between 2005 and 2019, found that children with congenital heart defects experienced a 66% higher overall cancer incidence. Notably, newborns with complex heart defects or those involving blood vessels and heart valves demonstrated a twofold increase in cancer risk.
Among the children studied, leukemia (21%) and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (11%) were the most frequently diagnosed cancers. Surprisingly, the research also revealed that mothers who gave birth to infants with congenital heart defects were 17% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer within a 10-year follow-up period.
Study author Dr. June Huh from Samsung Medical Center suggested that genetic variants inherited from mothers might create an environment conducive to cancer development in children with congenital heart defects. The findings underscore the potential existence of shared genetic pathways underlying both conditions.
The research highlights the importance of comprehensive, multidisciplinary healthcare approaches for families affected by congenital heart defects. Medical experts recommend ongoing surveillance and follow-up care with pediatric cardiologists and primary care physicians to monitor potential long-term health risks.
While the study was conducted using Korean population data, researchers believe the findings may have broader implications for understanding the relationship between congenital heart defects and cancer risk. The study’s limitations include potential unknown factors and analyses constrained by small sample sizes for specific heart defect types.
The research contributes to a growing body of knowledge about congenital heart defects, which affect approximately 12 in 1,000 births in the United States. As medical advances continue to improve survival rates for children with these conditions, understanding associated health risks becomes increasingly critical.
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