Neurological and Cardiovascular Disease in Infant: A Systematic Review Publisher



Albuzyad SS ; Omran HS ; Charmduzi F ; Sabri V ; Rahimlou Z ; Mirzaei N ; Mehrnia M
Source: Romanian Journal of Pediatrics Published:2025

Abstract

Introduction. Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk for neurodevelopmental impairments, but the magnitude and nature of this association remain unclear. Objective. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and types of neurological abnormalities in infants with CHD. Methods. A systematic search was conducted in international databases such as Web of Science, Psyc INFO, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for articles published up to September 2024. The review followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Out of 48 initially identified articles, 5 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Studies were assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results. A total of 570 infants who underwent neurological examination between 5 and 12 months of age were included across the five studies analyzed in this review. Overall, an estimated 72% of infants presented abnormalities in at least one neurological domain. The pooled effect size was 72%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) ranging from 57% to 88%, indicating that the true prevalence of neurological abnormalities in this population is highly likely to fall within this range. The heterogeneity among studies was low (I² = 10.26%), suggesting consistency across the included data sources. Conclusion. Neurological abnormalities are common in infants with CHD, highlighting the importance of routine neurodevelopmental screening in this high-risk population. Early identification and intervention may help reduce long-term morbidity and improve developmental outcomes. This information may be important for clinical management, parental counseling, and the decision-making process regarding follow-up and therapy. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.