NI BabyHearts 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
NI BabyHearts 2: Examining preconceptional and antenatal factors in relation to the developmental and educational outcomes of children with Congenital Heart Disease
IRAS ID
334800
Contact name
Frank Casey
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Ulster University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 20 days
Research summary
Background: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect in children accounting for almost one third of congenital abnormalities diagnosed prenatally or in infancy. No single cause of CHD has been identified and it is most likely to be multifactorial, determined by a combination of genetic, antenatal and postnatal factors. Having CHD can have a significant and lasting impact on children’s health and development with well documented neurodevelopmental delays experienced by some children with CHD. However, little evidence relates children’s developmental outcomes to preconceptional, antenatal and socioeconomic factors, while there is an increasing recognition of their importance. BabyHearts 2 is a unique opportunity to investigate these relationships in a large cohort with extensive antenatal data available.
Aim: To investigate the potential impact of preconceptional and antenatal environmental factors on the physical health, neurodevelopment and academic achievement of children with Congenital Heart Disease, using the BabyHearts cohort aged 6-9 years.Method: A matched cohort follow-up investigation of the BabyHearts sample now children are between 6 and 9 years old. The original study (2014-2017) included 242 cases and 966 controls with 95% consenting to recontact for further research. A combination of clinical data (patient medical records, birth outcome and children's prescription data), parental questionnaires (proxy measures of executive function and behavioural development) and child-completed standardised assessments (children's neurodevelopment, communication and educational attainment) will be collected for analysis. The BabyHearts dataset contains all preconceptional, antenatal and maternal participant information collected during NI BabyHearts 1. Birth outcome data will be extracted from the NI Maternity System (NIMATS) database. The Electronic Prescribing Database (EPD) will be used to collect children’s prescription data.
Impact: To inform clinical care and service provision, identifying needs in the overall care package for children with CHD, informing preconceptional and antenatal advice to women, and public health policy, and adding to the evidence base regarding improving outcomes for children with CHD.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/EE/0013
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion