Birth prevalence of congenital heart defects: A five and a half year study in a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka
Abstract
Introduction: Congenital heart defect (CHD) is the commonest congenital anomaly, accounting for 28% of major malformations. Birth prevalence of CHDs range from 5-10 per 1000 live births.
Objectives: To assess the birth prevalence of CHDs and describe the structural variations, severity and prevalence among different birth weights.
Method: This is a hospital based retrospective study over a period of 51/2 years from 01/01/2015 to 30/06/2020. All live births at Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH) during the study period were included in the study. Data was extracted from the congenital birth defects registry, maintained by the medical staff of the neonatal unit of SJGH since 2015. Data were entered into Excel sheet and analysed using SPSS statistical software version 22.
Results: A total of 19,729 babies were born during the study period. Prevalence was 13.64 per 1000 live births. Prevalence of mild, moderate and severe cases were 8/1000, 2.73/1000 and 2.69/1000 live births respectively. Prevalence of CHDs in low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight babies were 42.54 and 8.9 per 1000 live births respectively. Atrial septal defect (ASD) was the most prevalent heart defect followed by patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and ventricular septal defect (VSD). Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) was the most prevalent critical congenital heart defects (CCHD). Right ventricular tract obstructive lesions were more prevalent than left ventricular tract obstructive lesions.
Conclusions: CHD prevalence in this hospital based study was 13.64 per 1000 live births. ASD was the most prevalent CHD with PDA and VSD recording second and third places respectively. TOF was the most prevalent CCHD. Pulmonary outflow tract obstructive lesions were more prevalent than left ventricular outflow tract lesions. CHD prevalence was significantly higher in LBW babies than in normal birth weight babies
Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2022; 51(1): 46-51
© 2022 C. R. Gunaratne, K. S. Y. Perera, Medha Weerasekera, published by Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.