Frequency and types of congenital heart disease in neonates: A cross-sectional study from large public sector hospital of Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the frequent congenital health issues in neonates. Early diagnosis is a key factor to combat this problem. This study aims to assess the frequency and common types of CHD among neonates presenting to a tertiary care hospital, Karachi.
 Patients and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of National Institute of Child Health (NICH), Karachi from March to September 2017. All neonates of gestational age ≥37 weeks with suspected CHD (presence of blue-tinged skin, i.e. cyanosis on routine clinical examination) were included. Information regarding presence of CHD and its types were collected along with the demographic characteristics and history of the patients.
 Results: Of 134, frequency of CHD was observed in 126 (94%) patients. Out of these 126 CHD patients, Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was observed in 49 (38.9%), patent ductal arteriosus (PDA) in 29 (23%), atrial septal defect (ASD) was observed in 19 (15.1%), Transposition of great arteries (TGA) in 18 (14.3%), and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in 14 (11.1%) patients. A significant association of VSD was observed with neonatal age (p = <0.001), ASD with neonatal age (p = 0.037) and maternal age (p = 0.025), while TGA was found significantly associated with neonatal age (p<0.001).
 Conclusion: CHD was observed in majority of the suspected patients with VSD as commonest type of congenital heart diseases among neonates.

Spectrum of cyanotic congenital heart disease in full term neonates attending paediatric cardiology clinic of a Tertiary Cardiac Care Centre.

“…Similarly a study by Lynch A et al 20 showed that TGA was the most common cyanotic CHD in prenatal as well as post natal period. TGA was the most common cyanotic CHD in neonates in similar studies carried out in Karachi 21 and Abbottabad 3 Pakistan. In our study TGA was the second most common CCHD noted in 23 % of cases.…”