Overview

• A UK study published in BJOG found that maternal anemia in the first 100 days of pregnancy increases the risk of congenital heart disease (CHD) in newborns by 47%.
• Researchers analyzed health records of 16,500 women, comparing those with and without anemia, and identified a significant association with CHD in their children.
• CHD affects approximately 13 babies daily in the UK and is a leading cause of infant mortality, emphasizing the importance of these findings.
• Experts estimate that anemia in early pregnancy may account for 5% of CHD cases in the UK, with nearly a quarter of UK pregnant women experiencing anemia.
• The study recommends clinical trials to determine if iron supplementation before and during pregnancy can reduce the risk of anemia-related heart defects.