New research highlights the importance of adequate prenatal care for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). A study published on November 9, 2025, in JAMA Network Open coincided with the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025, which took place from November 7 to 10 in New Orleans. It found that increased prenatal visits for cases of mild CHDs are linked to a lower likelihood of delivery at specialized cardiac centers.
The study, led by Christina Laternser, Ph.D., from the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, examined the link between the adequacy of prenatal care and the probability of delivery at a pediatric cardiac center. Researchers analyzed data from neonates born with CHDs in Illinois from 2013 to 2021. Out of 12,113 neonates with CHD, 3,076 (or 25.4%) were born at a cardiac center, while 1,579 (approximately 13.0%) had severe CHD.
The findings revealed that 2.3% of the neonates had no prenatal care, while 13.4% received inadequate prenatal care. Additionally, 10.8%, 34.8%, and 38.8% of the infants had intermediate, adequate, and adequate-plus prenatal care, respectively. The study indicated a significant association regarding the timing of prenatal care initiation. Infants with mild CHD had a 10.5 percentage point higher probability of being delivered at a cardiac center, while those with severe CHD showed a 30.2 percentage point increase.
For infants with mild CHD, the research indicated that those receiving adequate-plus prenatal care had a 6.7 percentage point lower probability of delivery at a cardiac center compared to those with intermediate prenatal care. Interestingly, for severe CHD cases, the frequency of prenatal visits did not appear to influence delivery outcomes at cardiac centers.
“Prenatal care ensures that babies with congenital heart defects are born at the right location with the appropriate intensity of care based on their clinical needs,” stated Joyce Woo, M.D., senior author of the study and also affiliated with the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.
The implications of this research underscore the necessity of comprehensive prenatal care for expectant mothers, particularly those carrying infants diagnosed with congenital heart defects. With a clearer understanding of how prenatal care affects delivery outcomes, healthcare providers can work towards improving care strategies for these vulnerable populations.
For further details, refer to the study by Christina Laternser et al, “Prenatal Care and Perinatal Regionalization for Congenital Heart Defects,” published in JAMA Network Open. The full citation is available under DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.42135.
