Prenatal test: More than every second pregnant woman tests her unborn child for trisomies

Munich. Every second pregnant woman in Bavaria now has her unborn child tested for genetic abnormalities such as trisomy 21. While in 2023, this figure was just under a third of women (31.7 percent), the proportion rose to 52.1 percent last year, according to the health insurance company Barmer. Background: Since July 2022, statutory health insurance companies have covered the costs of the non-invasive prenatal test (NIPT), which examines the unborn child's genetic makeup for trisomy 13, 18, and 21. However, it is not one of the recommended screening tests.

Older pregnant women were particularly likely to opt for the test, which, if the result is negative, often leads to difficult decision-making processes with far-reaching consequences. Almost 72 percent of all pregnant women over 36 years of age nevertheless had the test performed, as the health insurance company determined based on its insured data, which is considered representative for the Free State due to the broad data base. "Trisomies are rare at any age. However, their incidence increases with age," explained Barmer regional director Alfred Kindshofer.

In trisomies, certain chromosomes are present in a child's cells three times instead of two, which can lead to physical deformities, intellectual disabilities, and a shortened lifespan. The most common is trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome. While many affected individuals have only mild limitations and can live largely independently as adults, children with trisomy 13 or 18 often have severe deformities and usually have a significantly shortened life expectancy.

The goal of having health insurance companies cover the costs of the test was actually to reduce the number of invasive prenatal tests such as amniocentesis, which carry risks such as premature rupture of the membranes, infections, or bleeding. However, according to the Barmer analysis, there is currently no evidence that the introduction of NIPT has actually reduced the number of invasive tests.

RND/dpa