Efficacy of Pulse Oximetry in Neonatal CHD Screening: A Cross-Sectional Study | ||||
| Annals of Neonatology | ||||
| Volume 7, Issue 2, July 2025, Page 65-80 PDF (340.1 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/anj.2025.353669.1106 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Hadir H Ahmed  ; Mohammad Abdelmaaboud; Moustafa Mohamed Abdel Raheem ; Nagwa Mohamed sabry Mahmoud; Sheren Esam Maher; Mohamed Ahmed Bahaa El-din
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| Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Egypt | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality, emphasizing the need for effective screening tools. Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method for early CHD detection. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of pulse oximetry as a standalone screening tool for CHD in neonates. Methods: This cross-sectional study conducted over one year and included 12,708 neonates screened with pulse oximetry within 6 to 72 hours of birth. Abnormal results, defined as SpO2 <90% or a persistent SpO2 difference>3% between limbs, were confirmed with echocardiography. Diagnostic metrics, including sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy, were calculated. Results: The mean gestational age was 38.2 ± 1.5 weeks, and the average birth weight was 3.1 ± 0.5 kg. Neonatal comorbidities such as sepsis were observed in 10% of participants. Pulse oximetry screening identified abnormal SpO2 readings in 45 neonates (15%), of which 30 were confirmed to have CHD through echocardiography. Pulse oximetry demonstrated a sensitivity of 78.4%, specificity of 93.8%, and a total accuracy of 82.2%. Among detected cases, cyanotic CHDs, including transposition of the great arteries and tetralogy of Fallot, were effectively identified. However, the detection of acyanotic CHDs, such as atrial and ventricular septal defects, was limited. Conclusion: Pulse oximetry is a reliable screening tool for cyanotic CHDs but has limitations in identifying acyanotic lesions. It serves as a valuable first-line method for neonatal CHD screening, particularly in settings with limited resources. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Congenital heart disease; pulse oximetry; neonatal screening; cyanotic CHD; diagnostic efficacy | ||||
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