Study: Newborn screening for critical heart defects saves lives

Early infant deaths from critical congenital heart disease decreased 33.4% between 2011 and 2013 in states with mandatory screening for the condition, according to a study reported last month in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Early infant deaths from other or unspecified cardiac causes also declined by 21.4% in those states. Most states implemented policies requiring screening for critical congenital heart disease after the condition was added to the U.S. Recommended Uniform Screening Panel for newborns in September 2011.