Cardiovascular risks of children conceived by assisted reproductive technologies: a systematic review

Background More than 5 million children have been born as a result of assisted reproductive medicine (ART) worldwide. It is still unclear whether these children develop cardiovascular changes in the long-term. The aim of this review was to evaluate the literature on cardiovascular risk factors in children born after ART. Methods A systematic literature review was performed using PubMed. Items were searched individually or in different combinations: ART, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI); in vitro fertilisation (IVF); heart disease; cardiac risk factor and cardiovascular health status. Studies published between January 2000 and January 2019 and which were directly related to possible consequences of cardiovascular disease after ART were included. Studies involving animal experiments were excluded. Results A total of 15 studies were found that provided evidence of cardiovascular changes in children after ART. The following changes became apparent: significant changes in blood pressure and an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. They also showed generalized vascular dysfunction, probably due to premature vascular aging. This problem appears to arise during fetal life and is not related to parental factors but to the method of ART itself. Conclusion Increased fetal and postnatal cardiovascular changes might occur after ART. In order to evaluate the influence on the cardiovascular system of these children, further long-term studies are needed.