Abstract
Background
Congenital heart defect (CHD) is considered one of the commonest major birth defects, causing children's morbidity and mortality.
Aims
To define the frequency and epidemiology of congenital heart disease among children in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Methods
This was a retrospective observational study based on the medical hearts. The study population consisted of pediatric patients with confirmed CHD, who were referred to the pediatric cardiology clinic at the King Salman Armed Forces Hospital, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia between January 2015 and June 2019. Of patients with CHD, those with patent ducts arteriosus (PDA) and persistent foramen oval spontaneously resolved during the first four weeks of life were excluded.
Results
A total of 1,647 pediatric patients were referred to the pediatric cardiology clinic. Of these, 851 were confirmed to have CHD. The diagnosis was made most frequently during the neonatal period. The following three were most frequently observed (in the order of): Ventricular septal defect (VSD: 42 per cent), atrial septal defect (ASD: 32.6 per cent), PDA (16.2 per cent). Down syndrome (DS) was the most frequent underlying condition. Approximately two-thirds of cases were managed conservatively.
Conclusion
We demonstrated the characteristics of children's CHD in this referral center. The data may be important to further make health-policy-making in this area.