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Published on: July 18, 2014
Congenital heart diseases in a reference service: clinical evolution and associated illnesses
Janaína Huber1, Vivian Catarino Peres, Tiago Jeronimo dos Santos
1Instituto de Cardiologia do Rio Grande do Sul, Fundação Universitária de Cardiologia, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil.
Insights
This study profiles patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), revealing common diagnoses like ventricular septal defect and Tetralogy of Fallot. Many patients experience developmental delays and low weight, highlighting the need for tailored healthcare strategies for CHD.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Clinical Research
- Public Health
Background:
- Advances in prenatal diagnosis and therapeutics have altered the patient profile for congenital heart disease (CHD).
- Understanding these evolving patient demographics is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.
- This study focuses on characterizing CHD patients in a key Brazilian reference center.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the demographic and clinical profile of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) treated at a reference pediatric cardiology service in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- To identify prevalent types of CHD, associated conditions, and developmental outcomes within this patient cohort.
- To provide data for improved healthcare planning and resource allocation for individuals with CHD.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 684 patients diagnosed with CHD.
- Data collection included patient/parent interviews, physical examinations (assessing malformations and anthropometrics), and medical record reviews (detailing cardiac conditions, procedures, and echocardiograms).
- Study period: January 2007 to May 2008.
Main Results:
- The patient cohort ranged from infants to adults (16 days to 66 years), with 51.8% females and 93.7% Caucasian.
- Most common CHDs included ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and Tetralogy of Fallot.
- Significant findings included high rates of therapeutic procedures (59.1%), extracardiac malformations (30.4%), genetic syndromes (in 12 patients), developmental issues (46.6% low weight/height, 13.7% neuropsychomotor delay), and a family history of CHD (18.4%).
Conclusions:
- Neuropsychomotor delay and impaired growth may be associated with congenital heart disease (CHD).
- Characterizing the profile of patients with CHD at a reference institution provides a foundation for appropriate healthcare planning.
- This data supports the need for comprehensive management strategies addressing the multifaceted needs of the CHD population.
Background:
Several factors, which include prenatal diagnosis and availability of new therapeutic procedures, have contributed to change the profile of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Knowing these changes is important to a better health care.
Objectives:
Description of profile of patients with CHD in a reference service in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Methods:
It is a cross-sectional study including 684 patients with CHD in a service of pediatric cardiology from January 2007 to May 2008. We interviewed the patients (and/or their parents) and examined these patients (congenital malformations, anthropometric measures). Moreover, their charts were reviewed in order to detail heart diseases, procedures and echocardiography.
Results:
Patients were from 16 days to 66 years old, 51.8% were female, and 93.7% were Caucasian. The mean age at diagnosis was 15.8 +/- 46.8 months. Ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus and Tetralogy of Fallot were the most prevalent CHD. 59.1% of examined patients, whose average age was 44.3 +/- 71.2 months, have been undergoing therapeutic procedures; 30.4% had congenital extracardiac malformations; and 12 patients had genetic syndrome. Regarding development, 46.6% had low weight and height gain, and 13.7% had neuropsychomotor delay. Furthermore, 18.4% had family history of congenital heart disease.
Conclusions:
Neuropsychomotor delay and low weight and height gain may be related to CHD. Establishing a profile of patients with CHD, who were treated at an institution of reference, may function as a basis in which health care of this population can be planed appropriately.
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