Maternal prepregnancy weight as an independent risk factor for congenital heart defects: systematic review and meta-analysis stratified by cardiac defect subtypes and severity.

Maternal weight emerged as a crucial modifiable risk factor for preventing CHDs, particularly the severe forms. Future research is needed to investigate whether weight management prior to pregnancy might serve as a preventive measure against CHDs. Additionally, for pregnant women with obesity, fetal echocardiography ought to be a routine diagnostic procedure. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.