Case-control study on environmental risk factors of congenital heart disease

  Objective   To determine environmental risk factors in the development of congenital heart disease(CHD)and to provide scientific evidence for the decision of making population intervention measures.

  Methods   A hospital-based 1:2 matched case-control study was conducted.Each case was matched with two normal controls on the sex, living district, birth date before or after half one year.By means of simple and multivariable conditional Logistic regression, 50 factors were analyzed.

  Results   Maternal exposure to poisonous chemicals, negative life events, cold with fever, taking antibiotic medicine, much consumption of meat, eggs, beans and milk during pregnancy were significantly associated with CHD and their odds ratios(OR)were 12.991, 8.638, 4.929, 3.692, 0.141, respectively.

  Conclusion   Maternal exposure to poisonous chemicals, negative life events, cold with fever, taking antibiotic medicine during pregnancy were the key environmental risk factors contributing to CHD, while maternal exposure to much consumption of meat, eggs, beans and milk during pregnancy was a protective factor for CHD.