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Congenital heart defects: the patients who die

Alf Meberg1, Harald Lindberg, Erik Thaulow

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Vestfold Hospital Tønsberg, Tønsberg, Norway. alf.meberg@siv.no

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|September 29, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) contribute significantly to infant mortality, with most deaths occurring within the first year. The mortality rate for CHDs has remained unchanged over two decades.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Congenital heart defects (CHDs) represent a significant public health concern.
  • Understanding mortality patterns is crucial for improving outcomes in affected infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the mortality rates and primary causes of death in infants diagnosed with congenital heart defects (CHDs).
  • To analyze trends in CHD-related mortality over time.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective, population-based observational study was conducted.
  • Data were collected on 553 infants with CHDs over a 22-year period.

Main Results:

  • Congenital heart defects (CHDs) accounted for 21.5% of neonatal deaths.
  • Overall mortality for infants with CHDs was 11.6%, with 79.7% of deaths occurring within the first year of life.
  • Mortality rates did not significantly change between 1982-1991 and 1992-2002 cohorts.

Conclusions:

  • Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are a substantial contributor to neonatal mortality.
  • Cardiac insufficiency is the primary cause of death in most cases.
  • The mortality rate associated with CHDs has remained consistent.
Abstract

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