Morbidity due to congenital heart diseases in pediatric age. Policlinic of Remedios, 2004-2006

Abstract

A descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study with the aim of characterizing morbidity due to congenital cardiovascular malformations was carried out at the 30 th Anniversary of the Death in Combat of Ernesto Guevara and his Comrades Teaching Policlinic of Remedios during the period from May 2004 to May 2006. The universe of patients with this condition in the health area (45 children from 0 to 19 years of age) was analyzed. A questionnaire to deal with the information taken from the individual and family medical history was devised. The prevalence rate of congenital heart diseases was of 5.1 per 1000 children born alive. The most common ones were: ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and aortic stenosis. Most of the diagnoses were made during the first year of life and the diagnosis of all complex heart diseases was made during the early neonatal period. The predominant risk factors were the infectious diseases, chronic diseases and the association of more than one risk factor. It was concluded that these malformations represent a high rate when compared to the rest of those registered in the area and that the highest rate is found in babies of mothers under age 15. The development of strategies for a correct prenatal diagnosis was recommended, as well as the surveillance of the associated risk factors and the improvement of the interrelation in the cardio-pediatric network in order to achieve an optimal follow-up of the cases.