Clinico-Epidemiological And Echocardiographic Profile Of Congenital Heart Disease In Children: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study At A Tertiary Care Hospital In Southern Rajasthan
Keywords:
Congenital Heart disease, echocardiography, tetralogy of fallot, pulmonary hypertension, ventricular septal defectAbstract
Background: Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are the most prevalent congenital anomalies globally, significantly contributing to infant morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography plays a crucial role in diagnosis, yet delayed presentation is common in resource-limited settings.
Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Pacific Institute of Medical Sciences, Udaipur, over 12 months. A total of 106 children aged 0-18 years with echocardiographically confirmed CHD were included. Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were collected. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed using SPSS v28.
Results: Of 106 participants, infants (26.4%) formed the largest group. Males predominated (58.5%). Most participants were from rural areas (60.4%) and lower-middle socioeconomic status (24.5%). Consanguinity was present in 21.7%, and 11.3% had a positive family history. Clinical symptoms varied with age: infants frequently presented with dyspnoea (78.6%) and failure to thrive (64.3%), while older children were often diagnosed incidentally. Acyanotic CHDs were more prevalent (68.9%), with ventricular septal defect (42.5%) as the most common lesion. Tetralogy of Fallot (45.5%) was the most frequent cyanotic CHD. Pulmonary hypertension was absent in neonates and infants but present in 60% of children aged >5 years. Consanguinity significantly increased the risk of severe CHD (OR: 2.45, p=0.03).
Conclusion: CHD presentation shows age-specific trends, with late diagnosis common in older children. Acyanotic lesions dominate the overall CHD burden, while cyanotic lesions are prevalent in neonates. Early screening is crucial for timely diagnosis and intervention, especially in rural and consanguineous populations.
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