Abstract
Background
Neonatal pulse oximetry screening (POS) algorithms for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) have contributed towards decreasing neonatal mortality but cannot be applied at high altitudes. New POS algorithms at high altitudes are needed.
Methods
This observational, prospective study included newborns born at different altitudes from 0 to 4380 meters above the sea level in Peru. Healthy newborns underwent neonatal preductal and postductal oximetry, echocardiography and telephonic follow-up up to 12 months of age. Newborns with CCHD underwent preductal and postductal oximetry at the time of telemedicine evaluation while located at the high-altitude hospital where they were born, and their diagnoses were confirmed with echocardiography locally or after arriving to the referral center. Two new algorithms were designed using clinically accepted neonatal oximetry cutoffs or the 5th and 10th percentiles for preductal and postductal oximetry values.
Results
A total of 502 healthy newborns and 15 newborns with CCHD were enrolled. Echocardiography and telephonic follow-up were completed in 227 (45%) and 330 healthy newborns (65%), respectively. The algorithm based on clinically accepted cutoffs had a sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 73% and false positive rate of 27% The algorithm based on the 5th and 10th percentiles had a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 88% and false positive rate of 12%.
Conclusions
Two algorithms that detect CCHD at different altitudes had adequate performance but high false positive rates.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Funding
This study was supported by the University of California, Los Angeles Global Health Seed Grant 2021.
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Contributions
Katia Bravo-Jaimes conceptualized and designed the study, drafted the initial manuscript, coordinated and supervised data collection, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Jose Rojas-Camayo, Leigh Reardon and Jeannette Lin conceptualized and designed the study, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Tania Vasquez-Loarte, Christian R. Mejia and Henry Zapata-Galarza designed the data collection instruments and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Zhuo Li carried out the analyses and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Kiran Mitha and Juan Alejos critically reviewed and revised the manuscript. Monica Medina, Marilia Berrocal, Jeanette Orozco, Daniel Lozano, Maryuri Santivañez, Carlos Sangay, William Rosales, Leddy Mamani, Nelly Macedo, Joel Coronado, Gian Huaman, and Rafael Marquez coordinated and supervised data collection, and critically reviewed and revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
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Bravo-Jaimes, K., Vasquez-Loarte, T., Rojas-Camayo, J. et al. A new algorithm DEtectS critical Congenital Heart Disease at different altitudes: ANDES-CHD study. J Perinatol 44, 373–378 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01888-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-01888-5