title: Selected environmental risk factors and congenital heart defects.
abstract: The aim of the article is to review the published scientific literature and epidemiological studies about the effect of selected environmental risk factors on congenital heart defects in infants. According to recent reports, the prevalence of congenital heart defects is around 1% of live births. Congenital heart malformations are the leading cause of infant mortality. Unfortunately, the majority of the causes of heart defects remain unknown. These malformations are caused by interaction of genetic and environmental factors. The article reviews selected environmental risk factors: maternal illnesses and conditions associated with metabolic disorder (maternal diabetes, obesity, phenylketonuria), maternal lifestyle factors (alcohol use, smoking), which may increase the risk of congenital heart defects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Sukileliu 17, Kaunas, Lithuania. renatakuciene@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuciene
authors.forename: Virginija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dulskiene
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D037841:Pregnant People; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects