Assessment of the prevalence of congenital heart diseases in children: an observational study

Abstract

Background: Early detection of congenital heart disease is of paramount importance to improve the quality of life of children and prevent morbidity and mortality. Early detection among school children is a novel approach which is time saving and cost effective. Aim: to determine the prevalence of congenital heart diseases in children in a tertiary care hospital. Material and methods: This Prospective observational study was done in the Department of Paediatrics,Vardhman Institute of Medical Science, Pawapuri, Nalanda,Bihar, India, for 13 months. Total number patients studied were 22,500, sample included all children aged (0-15 years) were included in this study. Clinical Examination, 2D Echocardiography and color Doppler were considered for diagnosis of CHD. Clinically suspected cases were subjected for 2D Echocardiography and color Doppler. Results: During the study periods we observed 22,500 new patients aged between (0-15 years), including OPD and IPD, of these 80 children were diagnosed to be having some type of CHD, with a prevalence of 1.88 per 1000 patients. ASD was the most common heart lesion(46.25%). Maximum number of cases were seen in 0-1 year age group(n=58, 72.5%). Atrial Septal Defect(ASD)-46.25%, Ventricular Septal Defect(VSD)-16.25%, Patent Foramen Ovale(PFO)-12.5%, Patent Ductus Arteriosus(PDA)-7.5%, VSD+ASD-7.5%, Dextrocardia+ Biscupid Aortic Valve+ Aortic Regurgitation-2.5%, Partial Anamolus Pulmonary Venous Connection(PAPVC)-2%, Pulmonary Stenosis(PS)-2%, PDA+ASD+Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension(PAH)-2.5%, of total cases.  Conclusion: Prevalence of congenital and rheumatic heart disease was 1.88 per 10,000. VSD and ASD were the most common types of congenital heart disease.

Keywords: Congenital heart disease, Prevalence, Pattern, children.