Pattern of congenital heart diseases in Western Rajasthan: an echocardiographic study

ABSTRACT

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) accounts for nearly one third of all major congenital anomalies. Globally the prevalence of CHD is 1.01 to 17.5 per 1000 live births. In India it is 1.3 to 26.4 per 1000 study population. CHD is an important cause of mortality and morbidity representing a global health burden. Early diagnosis and treatment may lead to improved prognosis in patients suffering from CHD. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of CHD in Western Rajasthan, India by echocardiography.Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out at Dr. S. N. Medical College and attached group of hospitals in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The study period was from July 2014 to June 2017. Records of all patients undergoing transthoracic echocardiography from newborn to 25 years of age were analyzed for age, sex and CHD findings.Results: In the study period, a total of 24,914 patients underwent echocardiography, of which 877 patients were identified as having CHD. Prevalence of CHD was 35.20 per 1000 study population. Amongst the total diagnosed CHD cases, 489 (55.76%) patients were male, with male to female ratio of 1.21. CHDs were diagnosed more commonly between 1 month and 1 year of age (41.28%). The commonest type of acyanotic CHD in the present study was ventricular septal defect (21.44%) and cyanotic CHD was tetralogy of Fallot (18.24%).Conclusions: Prevalence of CHD in Western Rajasthan, India was 35.20 per 1000 study population. Profile of CHDs in the present study was similar to that in published literature.