Abstract
Introduction: This pilot study explores a non-invasive, low cost screening method for identification of congenital heart disease (CHD).
Methods: A survey was distributed via social media platforms(Facebook, LinkedIn, webpages). Study participants were asked if they have a CHD diagnosis, other health problems, and whether they have a specific crease on either or both feet. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at The College of New Jersey and the Medical Advisory Board Research Committee of the Adult Congenital Heart Association.
Results: All study participants(n= 53) were over the age of 18 years, 69.6% were female (n=37), nine did not disclose their gender, and the remaining were male. Most participants reported their race as Caucasian (n=36). A diagnosis of CHD was reported by 32 participants. The most frequently reported CHD (67.9%) was Tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) (n=20). SPSS IBM (version 29) was used to conduct a Fisher exact test that identified a statistically significant association between having any CHD diagnosis and the presence of a crease on either foot (p value = 0.15). Participants who reported presence of a foot crease also reported a prior CHD diagnosis with the exception of one individual with a chromosomal syndrome. No association was identified between Caucasian race and the presence of a crease on either foot (p value = 1), or between gender and presence of a crease on either foot (p value = 0.214). Small sample size limited analyzing associations between other CHD diagnoes, other racial groups, and presence of a crease on either foot.
Conclusions: This pilot study identified a statistically significant association between having a CHD and the presence of a crease on either foot. Further research is needed to identify if there is an association between a specific CHD and presence of the crease on either foot. Research is also needed to evaluate if a low cost, readily available screening exam for a foot crease could be used globally for early identification of CHD in newborns.
Notes
References:
Assenza, G.E., Krieger, E.V., Baumgartner, H., Cupido, B., Dimopoulos, K., Louis, C., Lubert, A.M., Stout, K.K., Valente, A.M., Zeppenfield, K., & Opotowsky, A.R. (2021). AHA/ACC vs ESC guidelines for management of adults with congenital heart disease: JACC guideline comparison. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 78(19), 1904-1918. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2021.09.010.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024, May 15). Congenital heart defects. United States Depatment of Health and Human Services. www.cdc.gov/heart-defects.
Congenital Heart Public Health Consortium (2024, August 12). Congenital Heart Defect Fact Sheets. America Academy of Pediatrics. https.//www.aap.org/en/patient:care/congenital-heart-defects/congenital-heart-defect-fact-sheets/
Embong, N.H., Soh, Y.C., Ming, L.C., & Wong, T.W. (2015). Revisiting reflexology: Concept, evidence, current practice, and practitioner training. Journal of Traditional and Complementary Medicine, 5(4), 197-206. https:/doi.oorg/10.1016/j.jtcme.2015.08.008.
Horn, L.A. & Martin, G.R. (2020). Newborn critical congenital heart disease screening using pulse oximetry: Value and unique challenges in developing regions. International Journal of Neonatal Screening, 6(3), 74. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijns6030074.
Ntiloudi, D., Gatzoulis, M.A., Alexandra, A., Karvounis, H. & Giannakoulas, G. (2021). Adult congenital heart disease: Looking back, moving forward. International Journal of Cardiology Congenital Heart Disease, 2 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jihcchd.2020.1000076.
Singh, Y. & Chen, E.E. (2022). Impact of pulse oximetry screening to detect congenital heart defects: 5 years' experience in a UK regional neonatal unit. European Journal of Pediatrics, 18192), 813-821. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021004275-w.
Whatley, J., Perkins, J., & Samuel, C. (2022). Reflexology: Exploring the mechanism of action. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 48, Article 101606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctpc.2022.101606.
Sigma Membership
Delta Nu, Xi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Pilot/Exploratory Study
Keywords:
Health Equity, Social Determinants of Health, Primary Care, Clinical Practice, Promoting Clinical Outcomes, Congenital Heart Disease, Newborns, Screening
Recommended Citation
Jakubowski, Tami L.; Mann, Simranjot; Cartnick, Emma; Curtis, Sarah; Kenner, Carole; and Boykova, Marina, "Adult From Heart to Sole: Screening and Early Identification of Congenital Heart Disease" (2025). Biennial Convention (CONV). 163.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2025/presentations_2025/163
Conference Name
48th Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2025-12-04
Adult From Heart to Sole: Screening and Early Identification of Congenital Heart Disease
Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Introduction: This pilot study explores a non-invasive, low cost screening method for identification of congenital heart disease (CHD).
Methods: A survey was distributed via social media platforms(Facebook, LinkedIn, webpages). Study participants were asked if they have a CHD diagnosis, other health problems, and whether they have a specific crease on either or both feet. This study has been approved by the Institutional Review Board at The College of New Jersey and the Medical Advisory Board Research Committee of the Adult Congenital Heart Association.
Results: All study participants(n= 53) were over the age of 18 years, 69.6% were female (n=37), nine did not disclose their gender, and the remaining were male. Most participants reported their race as Caucasian (n=36). A diagnosis of CHD was reported by 32 participants. The most frequently reported CHD (67.9%) was Tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) (n=20). SPSS IBM (version 29) was used to conduct a Fisher exact test that identified a statistically significant association between having any CHD diagnosis and the presence of a crease on either foot (p value = 0.15). Participants who reported presence of a foot crease also reported a prior CHD diagnosis with the exception of one individual with a chromosomal syndrome. No association was identified between Caucasian race and the presence of a crease on either foot (p value = 1), or between gender and presence of a crease on either foot (p value = 0.214). Small sample size limited analyzing associations between other CHD diagnoes, other racial groups, and presence of a crease on either foot.
Conclusions: This pilot study identified a statistically significant association between having a CHD and the presence of a crease on either foot. Further research is needed to identify if there is an association between a specific CHD and presence of the crease on either foot. Research is also needed to evaluate if a low cost, readily available screening exam for a foot crease could be used globally for early identification of CHD in newborns.
Description
This pilot study explores a non-invasive, low cost screening method for identification of congenital heart disease (CHD). A statistically significant association was identified between having a CHD diagnosis and the presence of a specific crease on either foot. Screening for a foot crease could be used globally for early identification of CHD in newborns.