Article Impact Level: HIGH Data Quality: STRONG Summary of Circulation, 151(11), 807–809. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071811 Dr. Danbee Kang et al.
Points
- Infants with congenital heart defects (CHD) had a 66% higher cancer risk, with blood vessel and heart valve defects doubling the risk and complex CHD cases also showing a twofold increase.
- Among CHD-affected children, the most frequent cancers were leukemia (21%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (11%), highlighting a significant association between CHD and blood cancers.
- Mothers of children with CHD had a 17% higher risk of developing cancer over a 10-year follow-up period, suggesting a potential genetic or environmental link.
- Researchers hypothesize that shared genetic factors, epigenetic changes, or caregiving stress may contribute to the increased cancer risk in both CHD-affected infants and their mothers.
- The study underscores the importance of long-term monitoring for both children with CHD and their mothers, calling for further research into genetic and environmental influences on cancer risk.
Summary
This study, published in Circulation, examines the association between congenital heart defects (CHD) and the increased risk of cancer in both affected infants and their mothers. Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, which covered over 3.5 million live births between 2005 and 2019, the study found that the incidence of cancer was 66% higher in newborns with CHD compared to those without. Notably, infants with defects involving blood vessels or heart valves had more than double the cancer risk, while those with complex CHD had a twofold increased risk. The most common cancers among all children were leukemia (21%) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (11%).
In addition to the increased cancer risk in affected newborns, the study highlighted a significant finding regarding maternal health. Mothers of children with CHD were 17% more likely to develop cancer during the 10-year follow-up period compared to mothers whose children did not have CHD. While the exact mechanism remains unclear, the researchers suggest that shared genetic factors or epigenetic changes might explain the observed association, especially considering the stress associated with caring for a child with a serious heart condition.
The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive care for families affected by CHD, including follow-up care for both the child and the mother. While the study’s findings are specific to Korea, the results could have implications for other populations as well. The researchers call for further studies to explore the genetic and environmental factors that may underlie the increased cancer risks in these families, particularly focusing on the potential role of maternal genetic predispositions or environmental stressors that could influence cancer risk.
Link to the article: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071811
References Kang, D., Choi, G.-J., Heo, J., Park, S. W., Sung, J., Kim, I., Park, T., Cho, J., & Huh, J. (2025). Risk of cancer in newborns with congenital heart disease and their mothers: A nationwide cohort study. Circulation, 151(11), 807–809. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.124.071811
