A case-control study of major congenital heart defects in Sweden--1981-1986.

This paper reports the results of a case-control study of major congenital heart defects (CHD) in Sweden. During the period 1981-1986, 1,324 such cases were identified and 2,648 controls were selected. Some common maternal characteristics and exposures were studied using information from prospectively collected data. Possible associations with CHD were found for previous perinatal death, maternal diabetes, epilepsy, hydramnios and disproportion between fetus and pelvis. More specific associations were observed between previous spontaneous abortion, epilepsy, hydramnios and truncus anomalies and between diabetes and septal anomalies. However, no associations were found with involuntary childlessness, contraceptive use, or smoking.