Incidence and risk factors of pulmonary hypertension in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Rebeca Lopes Figueira
  • , Fabian Doktor
  • , Nazgol Moheimani
  • , Giuseppe Lauriti
  • , Jessie Lu
  • , Giuseppe Speziale
  • , Augusto Zani

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH-PH) is a major determinant for poor outcomes and high mortality patients with CDH. Identifying risk factors for PH is critical to improve clinical management and optimize treatment approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with the development of CDH-PH. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was registered on PROSPERO and performed according to the PRISMA guidelines. PubMed and Medline were searched for studies published until February 2025 reporting the incidence, mortality and/or risk factors of CDH-PH in human. Studies with overlapping patient populations not meeting inclusion criteria were excluded. CDH-PH incidence was estimated using a proportional meta-analysis. Risk ratios (RRs) for risk factors were calculated using the Mantel-Haenszel method with a randoms effect model in RevMan 5.4. Results are presented as proportions or RRs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Of 11,618 studies, 193 full-text articles were screened, and a total of 59 articles were included. The overall incidence of CDH-PH in infants was 45% (95%CI: 40–50%), with higher risk of death in comparison to CDH newborns without PH [RR 5.04 (3.43–7.39); p < 0.05]. Risk factors for CDH-PH were: pre-operative liver herniation [RR 1.75 (1.48–2.08; p < 0.05], non-left CDH (bilateral and Right-CDH) [RR 1.20 (1.08–1.33); p < 0.05], female sex [RR 1.07 (1.04–1.09); p < 0.05], and congenital heart disease [RR 2.15 (1.48–3.12); p < 0.05]. Conclusions: We found that almost half patients with CDH suffer from PH and that CDH-PH patients have a fivefold higher risk of death in comparison to CDH patients without PH. Although the etiology of CDH-PH remains elusive, the risk factors identified may indirectly indicate that a high degree of mechanical compression on the fetal lungs contributes to vascular remodeling and predisposes to CDH-PH.

Original languageEnglish
Article number23
JournalPediatric Surgery International
Volume42
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2026

Keywords

  • Congenital diaphragmatic hernia
  • Mortality
  • Prevalence
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Risk factors

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