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Mortality and complications in 3495 children with isolated ventricular septal defects

Jarle Jortveit1, Elisabeth Leirgul2, Leif Eskedal3

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Sørlandet, Arendal, Norway Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Archives of Disease in Childhood
|April 20, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Children with isolated ventricular septal defects (VSDs) have a favorable prognosis, with no increased mortality. Cardiac complications like endocarditis and arrhythmias were infrequent in this congenital heart defect population.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Congenital Heart Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital heart defects (CHDs).
  • Previous research suggested increased risks of endocarditis, aortic regurgitation, outflow tract obstruction, pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmias, and sudden death in isolated VSD patients.
  • This study investigates mortality and cardiac complications in children with isolated VSDs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report mortality and cardiac complications requiring hospitalization or intervention in children with isolated VSDs.
  • To assess the long-term prognosis of isolated VSDs in a nationwide cohort.

Main Methods:

  • A nationwide cohort study utilizing data from Norwegian registries (Medical Birth Registry, Cardiovascular Disease in Norway, Oslo University Hospital's Clinical Registry of Congenital Heart Defects, Norwegian Cause of Death Registry).
  • Inclusion criteria: live births in Norway (1994-2009) without known chromosomal aberrations or extracardiac malformations.
  • Follow-up until 2013 to identify mortality and cardiac complications.

Main Results:

  • Isolated VSDs were identified in 3495 children.
  • Surgical or catheter-based treatment was performed in 5.2% of cases.
  • No excess mortality was observed in children with isolated VSDs compared to controls (adjusted HR 0.8).
  • Cardiac complications were infrequent: endocarditis (0.9‰), aortic regurgitation (3.4‰), pulmonary hypertension (0.3‰), and arrhythmias (4.6‰). Left ventricular outflow tract obstructions were not recorded.

Conclusions:

  • Children with isolated VSDs exhibit a favorable prognosis with no increased overall mortality.
  • Cardiac complications requiring hospitalization or intervention, such as endocarditis and arrhythmias, are infrequent during childhood for isolated VSDs.
Abstract

Keywords:
CardiologyCongenital Abnorm

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