Trends in Mortality of Congenital Heart Defects

Abstract

The 1-year mortality of severe congenital heart defects among live births, 1994-2009, declined in Norway. The downward trend in mortality may be explained by a more frequent use of termination of affected pregnancies, and the reduced operative mortality of severe congenital heart defects.

Mortality and complications in 3495 children with isolated ventricular septal defects

“…The mortality in the entire group of children with CHDs is still high compared with children without CHDs24 and increased mortality has also been reported in children with VSDs. In Norway, Otterstad et al 19 previously described increased mortality in 70 patients with small and unoperated VSDs born 1959–1978, which contrasts our findings.…”

“…The nationwide research project ‘Congenital Heart Defects in Norway’ includes all births in Norway in 1994–2009 6 23 24. This project includes medical data from the following sources: The Medical Birth Registry of Norway is a national health registry managed by The Norwegian Institute of Public Health.…”

Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest in children with congenital heart defects

“…Isolated cardiomyopathies and primary arrhythmias were not defined as CHDs. Compared with the general population, more children with CHDs were girls (50.1% vs 48.6%, p=0.01), were born preterm (15.9% vs 6.5%, p<0.001) and were small for gestational age (15.6% vs 8.8%, p<0.001) 20. A total of 842 (7.5%) children with CHD died during the study period.…”

“…A total of 842 (7.5%) children with CHD died during the study period. Most deaths (n=751, 89%) occurred during the first 2 years of life 20. The mean follow-up time for the children with CHD who survived the first 2 years of life was 10.6 years (±4.5 years) 17.…”

Epidemiology, Prenatal Diagnosis, and Neonatal Outcomes of Congenital Heart Defects in Eastern China: A Hospital-Based Multicenter Study

“…CHD is the main cause of fetal and infant death. Indeed, disparities in CHD mortality is related to CHD subtypes, maternal race and pediatric cardiac development et al The 1-year infant mortality rate from CHD ranges from 0.33‰ to 2‰, which is worse in critical CHD (CCHD) and those prenatally diagnosed [6][7][8][9].Even patients living with CHD are strongly associated with other complications, such as heart failure, lung infection, and endocarditis, which affect the patient's physical and mental health to some degree [10][11][12].For infants with CCHD, they frequently require medical care or surgical intervention [1,13].…”