Pattern of Congenital Heart Disease in Children Presenting to Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly in children and a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Early recognition of the pattern of CHD is essential for timely diagnosis, appropriate management, and healthcare planning. Knowledge of the local distribution of congenital cardiac defects can facilitate improved screening and treatment strategies. Objective: To determine the pattern of congenital heart disease in children presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 101 children aged 1–10 years, of either gender, with echocardiographically confirmed congenital heart disease, from 25 October 2024 to 25 March 2025, in the Pediatric Department of Gomal Medical College, Dera Ismail Khan. Children with bicuspid aortic valve without stenosis, mitral valve prolapse, cardiac malposition, or infective endocarditis were excluded. All participants were evaluated for the presence of ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, pulmonary valve stenosis, and transposition of the great arteries. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the frequency of congenital heart defects, while post-stratification analysis was performed using the chi-square test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the children was 5.38 ± 3.03 years, and the mean body weight was 17.73 ± 6.09 kg. There were 56 (55.4%) males and 45 (44.6%) females. Ventricular septal defect was the most common congenital cardiac anomaly, identified in 44 (43.6%) children, followed by patent ductus arteriosus in 21 (20.8%), atrial septal defect in 15 (14.9%), transposition of the great arteries in 11 (10.9%), and pulmonary valve stenosis in 10 (9.9%) children. Conclusion: Ventricular septal defect was the most prevalent congenital heart disease among children, followed by patent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect. Early echocardiographic evaluation and timely referral are essential to facilitate prompt diagnosis and optimize clinical outcomes in children with congenital heart disease.