Echocardiographic Pattern of Congenital Heart Diseases in Adolescent and Adult population of Western Rajasthan

Abstract

Background: Nearly one third of all major congenital anomalies are due to congenital heart disease (CHD). Globally the prevalence of CHD in adults varies from 0.66 to 40.0 per 1000 study population. In India the prevalence of CHD is 1.09 to 543 per 1000 study population. CHD is a major global health burden because of increased mortality and morbidity associated with it. Early diagnosis and management can be helpful in improving survival rates, quality of life and prognosis in patients suffering from CHD.

Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the echocardiographic profile of CHD in Western Rajasthan, India in population above 12 years of age.

Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at department of Cardiology and Pediatrics of Dr. S. N. Medical College and attached group of hospitals in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. The presence of CHD among all patients above 12 years of age who underwent transthoracic echocardiography over a period of around 4 years from July 2014 to April 2018 was analyzed.

Results: A total of 256 patients above 12 years of age were identified as having CHD out of the 33,228 patients who underwent echocardiography during the study period, thus giving a prevalence of 7.7 per 1000 study population. Amongst the total diagnosed CHD cases, 137 (53.52%) patients were male with male to female ratio of 1.15:1. CHDs were diagnosed more commonly between 13 to 24 years of age (54.69%). The commonest type of CHD in the present study was atrial septal defect (27.34%) whereas the most common cyanotic CHD was tetralogy of Fallot (10.94%).

Conclusion: Prevalence of CHD in study cohort of age more than 12 years in Western Rajasthan, India was 7.7 per 1000 study population. Profile of CHDs in the present study was similar to that in published literature. We propose to do larger and targeted studies in this age group because many CHDs will become inoperable or even if operated will leave some or other cardiac dysfunction beyond adolescence.