Introduction
Fetal abnormalities are the leading cause of early abortion, stillbirth, late infant death, and congenital malformations ( Brent, 2004 ). According to the World Health Organization (WHO), congenital anomalies have an incidence of 2–3% and account for 240,000 newborn deaths worldwide every year ( WHO, 2023 ). Congenital anomalies not only seriously affect the survival and quality of life of children but also cause great pain and heavy economic burden on families and society ( Boyd et al., 2008 ; Heaney, Tomlinson & Aventin, 2022 ). Owing to environmental pollution, deficiencies in maternal nutrition, radiation exposure, poor lifestyle habits, and advanced maternal age, China has a high incidence of birth defects ( Chen et al., 2022 ; Ghazi et al., 2021 ; Tan, Sethi & Sulaiman, 2022 ; Zhang et al., 2020 ) of approximately 5.6%, equivalent to approximately 900,000 new birth defects every year ( Li & Di, 2021 ).

Progress in prenatal diagnosis technology and disease research has enabled the detection and treatment of an increasing number of fetal abnormalities during the early stages of development ( Haxel et al., 2022 ). However, the decision to continue or terminate a pregnancy with fetal abnormalities is influenced by various factors, including national laws and regulations, religious beliefs, ethics, socioeconomic conditions, education level, and severity of fetal abnormalities ( Hjort-Pedersen et al., 2022 ; Kerns et al., 2012 ; Pusayapaibul, Manonai & Tangshewinsirikul, 2022 ). In the UK, approximately 37% of pregnant women choose to terminate their pregnancy when diagnosed with fetal abnormalities ( Heaney, Tomlinson & Aventin, 2022 ). In the United States, this number ranges from 47 to 90% ( Kerns et al., 2012 ), and in Thailand, more than half of pregnant women opt for termination ( Pusayapaibul, Manonai & Tangshewinsirikul, 2022 ). In China, when a fetal abnormality is diagnosed, the pregnant woman and her family members are informed about the type, treatment, and prognosis of the diagnosed abnormal condition. For a confirmed fatal fetal abnormality, termination of pregnancy (TOP) is recommended with informed consent from the pregnant woman and her family members. For non-fatal fetal abnormalities with a high risk of treatment and poor prognosis, doctors will inform the woman and her family about the perinatal prognosis and provide advice for careful consideration. In such cases, the woman and her family may choose to terminate the pregnancy, in which they would sign an informed consent form; alternatively, they may choose postpartum treatment, in which case, close follow-up after birth is recommended. For treatable fetal abnormalities with a good prognosis, doctors may recommend continuing the pregnancy. However, the decision to continue pregnancy ultimately depends on the pregnant woman. The rate of abnormal fetal termination of pregnancy is 70.66%, in rural areas, termination rates have exceeded 90% ( Xie et al., 2020 ).

Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, located in one of the economically developed regions of China, in order to enhance the management of fetal birth defects throughout the entire pregnancy process, starting from May 2022, the hospital has integrated various departments such as prenatal diagnosis, obstetrics, neonatology, neonatal surgery, pediatric surgery, neurological rehabilitation, pediatric genetics and metabolism, stomatology, ENT, ophthalmology, reproduction, ultrasound diagnosis, and radiology (MRI), established a multidisciplinary “Fetal Life Cycle Clinic” to provide comprehensive treatment for pregnant women diagnosed with fetal abnormalities.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the clinical data and pregnancy outcomes of women with abnormal fetal pregnancies, analyze the factors affecting the outcomes of abnormal fetal pregnancies, and provide a reference for prognosis consultation and treatment of fetal dysplasia.