A comprehensive study published in Circulation reveals that newborns with congenital heart defects face a substantially higher risk of developing childhood cancer. Researchers analyzed health data from over 3.5 million live births in Korea, finding that infants with heart defects have a 66% higher overall cancer incidence compared to those without such conditions.
The study, conducted by researchers at Samsung Medical Center, discovered that children with heart vessel or valve defects experienced more than double the cancer risk. Leukemia and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma were the most common cancer types identified, representing 21% and 11% of cases respectively.
Notably, the research also uncovered an unexpected finding: mothers who gave birth to newborns with congenital heart defects were 17% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer within a 10-year period. Researchers suggest this connection might stem from shared genetic predispositions or potential inherited mutations that contribute to both heart defects and cancer risks.
Dr. June Huh, the study's author, emphasized the importance of understanding genetic traits and maternal factors in these conditions. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive, multidisciplinary healthcare approaches for families affected by congenital heart defects.
Medical experts recommend lifelong monitoring and follow-up care for individuals born with heart defects, highlighting the potential long-term health implications of these early developmental conditions.
