Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2025
Closure of a Patent Foramen Ovale PFO: An Intervention Sequence
Published on: December 23, 2022
The Prevalence and Spontaneous Closure of Ventricular Septal Defects the First Year of Life
Christian Pihl1,2,3, Anne-Sophie Sillesen1,2,3, Jakob Boesgaard Norsk1,2,3
1Department of Cardiology, Herlev-Gentofte Hospital - Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Insights
Most newborn Ventricular Septal Defects (VSDs) close spontaneously within the first year. Muscular VSDs, smaller defects, and single VSDs have higher closure rates, reducing prevalence significantly by age one.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Congenital Heart Disease Research
- Neonatal Health Studies
Background:
- Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a common congenital heart defect.
- Understanding VSD prevalence and natural closure is crucial for clinical management.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine VSD prevalence in a population-based newborn cohort.
- Assess the rate and predictors of spontaneous VSD closure within the first 12 months of life.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study (CBHS), a cohort of over 25,000 newborns.
- Conducted echocardiography within 60 days of birth, with follow-up at 3, 6, and 12 months for VSD cases.
Main Results:
- Identified VSD in 3.3% of newborns (850/25,556).
- Achieved 83.5% spontaneous closure rate by 1 year, reducing prevalence to 0.5%.
- Muscular VSDs, smaller VSD size, and absence of multiple VSDs were associated with higher spontaneous closure rates.
Conclusions:
- VSD prevalence at birth is 3.3%, decreasing to 0.5% by age one due to high spontaneous closure rates.
- Muscular VSD type, smaller defect size, and solitary VSDs are key predictors of spontaneous closure.
Introduction:
Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the most common congenital heart defects. We aimed to determine the prevalence of VSD in a population-based cohort of newborns and assess the rate of spontaneous closure during the first 12 months of life.
Methods:
The Copenhagen Baby Heart Study (CBHS) is a population-based cohort study, including more than 25,000 newborns born in the greater Copenhagen area. Newborns underwent echocardiography within 60 days of birth. Newborns with VSDs had echocardiographic follow-up after 3, 6, and 12 months.
Results:
A total of 850 newborns (3.3% of 25.556) with a VSD were identified in the CBHS. Of these, 787 (92.6% [95% CI 90.1-94.2]) were muscular VSDs, 60 (7.0% [95% CI, 5.5-9.0]) were perimembranous, and 3 (0.4% [95% CI, 0.0-1.1]) were subarterial. After 1 year, 83.5% (607 of 727) of all VSDs had closed spontaneously, resulting in a decrease of prevalence from 3.3% at birth to 0.5% in 1-year old children. Muscular VSDs showed significantly higher rate of spontaneous closure compared with perimembranous VSDs (86.9% (582/670) vs. 46.9% (25/54), p < 0.001). Determinants associated with spontaneous closure were smaller size of the VSD (p < 0.001) and the absence of multiple VSDs (p < 0.0025).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of VSDs in unselected newborns was 3.3%. Almost 9/10 of all VSDs identified in newborns, close spontaneously during the first year of life, ultimately resulting in a prevalence of VSD in 1-year-old children of 0.5%. The identified factors associated with spontaneous closure were muscular type, small size, and absence of multiple VSDs.
