Irregular Fetal Heartbeat Indicates Serious Problem
in Small Number of Cases

Irregular fetal heartbeats are relatively common, but a recent Yale study shows these arrhythmias are an indication of serious problems in only a fraction of affected fetuses. "A skipped or extra beat in a baby's heart rate is reported in about 14 percent of normal healthy neonates," said Joshua Copel, M.D., Chief of Perinatal Medicine at Yale and the study’s leader. "But we now know after reviewing our data that there is only a one to two percent chance of finding a problem in the rhythm that needs to be attended to before or after birth."

The results were published in the April issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. They were based on a review of 5,566 fetal echocardiograms conducted at the Yale Fetal Cardiovascular Center from 1988 through 1997. This is the largest review to date of fetuses with heart rhythm irregularities.

Of the total number of cases referred to the Center for irregular heartbeats, 614 were found through further testing to have heart arrhythmias. An additional examination showed that of the 614 fetuses, extra heartbeats were recorded in 43 percent, and normal heart rhythms were reported in 55 percent. Significant arrhythmias were seen in 10, with two of the fetuses found to have heart disease.

Copel said he conducted the study to help lessen expectant parents' concerns and to confirm earlier beliefs that irregular fetal heartbeats do not warrant aggressive treatment from a risk-benefit standpoint. "We do think it’s still worth evaluating irregular heartbeats to find the one to two percent who may need treatment, but the study shows an irregular heart beat is nothing to get panicked about in most cases."

For more information, contact Dr. Joshua Copel.

More about

• Fetal Monitoring
• the Fetal Non-Stress Test
• Other Common Tests During Pregnancy
• and Pediatric Cardiovascular Diseases