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Published on: July 18, 2014
Impact of the Gulf war on congenital heart diseases in Kuwait
L Abushaban1, A Al-Hay, B Uthaman
1Cardiology Department, The Chest Hospital, Kuwait City, 13041 Safat, Kuwait. lulu@hsc.kuniv.edu.kw
Insights
Congenital heart disease (CHD) incidence in Kuwaiti infants significantly increased after the Gulf War. Environmental factors may contribute to this rise, though the exact cause remains unclear.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Environmental Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Concerns exist regarding increased congenital heart disease (CHD) rates in Kuwaiti infants post-Gulf War.
- A retrospective analysis was conducted to investigate CHD incidence in Kuwaiti newborns.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Kuwaiti infants before and after the Gulf War.
- To identify potential trends or changes in CHD occurrence linked to the post-war period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective evaluation of Kuwaiti infants diagnosed with CHD within their first year of life.
- Comparison of CHD incidence (per 10,000 live births) between pre-invasion (1986-1989) and post-liberation (1992-2000) periods.
Main Results:
- A total of 2704 cases of CHD were recorded: 326 pre-invasion and 2378 post-liberation.
- Mean annual CHD incidence rose from 39.5 to 103.4 per 10,000 live births post-war (P<0.001).
- A notable increase in CHD cases occurred in the initial 3 years post-liberation, with some types showing a trend reduction from 1995-2000.
Conclusions:
- The study observed a significant increase in CHD incidence shortly after the Gulf War concluded.
- The precise etiology for the elevated CHD rates remains undetermined.
- Potential contributing factors include environmental pollution and psychological trauma, warranting further investigation.
Background:
There has been concern over the increase in the number of babies born with congenital heart diseases (CHD) in Kuwait after the Gulf War.
Methods:
We evaluated retrospectively the number of Kuwaiti infants who were diagnosed to have CHD within the first year of life. The comparison was made between those presented from January 1986 to December 1989 (preinvasion) and those presented after the liberation of Kuwait (from January 1992 to December 2000). The number of cases was considered per 10,000 live births in that year.
Results:
The numbers of cases were 2704 (326 before the invasion and 2378 after liberation). The mean annual incidence of CHD was 39.5 and 103.4 (per 10,000 live births) before and after the Gulf War, respectively (P<0.001). There was an increase in the number of babies with CHD during the immediate 3 years postliberation with a relative reduction in the trend from 1995 to 2000, in some types of CHD.
Conclusions:
In our series, there was an increased incidence of CHD almost immediately following the end of the Gulf War period. The cause of this increase remains relatively obscure. Environmental pollution may be a contributing factor; others such as possible psychological trauma remain subject to speculation.
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