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Spectrum of Congenital Heart Diseases in Iraqi Patients
Sadiq M Al-Hamash1, Amer Naes Amer1, Kamal Ali Mohammed Maerozy2
1Ibn-Albitar Center for Cardiac Surgery, Baghdad, Iraq.
Insights
Congenital heart disease (CHD) in Iraq shows a prevalence of acyanotic types, with ventricular septal defect (VSD) being most common. Early diagnosis, particularly by age two, is crucial, with gender-specific considerations for screening.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) diagnosis and risk stratification are critical for effective patient management.
- Understanding the spectrum of CHD in specific populations, like Baghdad, Iraq, is essential for targeted healthcare strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the prevalence and characteristics of congenital heart disease (CHD) among patients in Baghdad, Iraq.
- To analyze the types of CHD, age at diagnosis, and gender distribution within the Iraqi patient cohort.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 2221 patients diagnosed with CHD was conducted over one year.
- Data collected included patient demographics, CHD type, and age at diagnosis.
Main Results:
- Acyanotic CHD constituted 76.7% of cases, with ventricular septal defect (VSD) being the most frequent lesion (30.2%).
- Over half of diagnoses occurred by age two (47.5% in infancy, 10.9% neonatal), with only 13.2% diagnosed in adulthood.
- Gender-specific patterns were observed, with certain defects more common in males or females.
Conclusions:
- Acyanotic CHD, predominantly VSD, is the most common form in this Iraqi cohort.
- Early diagnosis of CHD, ideally by age two, is highlighted, emphasizing the need for gender-informed screening protocols.
Background:
Early detection and risk stratification of congenital heart disease (CHD) are of utmost importance for timely management. This study aimed to report on CHD among patients in Baghdad, Iraq.
Methods:
This prospective study was conducted from September 1, 2022 to September 1, 2023 among 2221 patients of all age groups diagnosed with CHD.
Results:
This study analyzed 2221 patients with CHD, of whom 76.7% had acyanotic CHD and 23.3% had cyanotic CHD. The mean age was higher for acyanotic cases (81.3 months) than for cyanotic cases (25.6 months). Almost half (47.5%) of the diagnoses were made in infancy, and 10.9% were made in the neonatal period. Only 13.2% of the diagnoses were made in adulthood. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was the most frequent lesion, mainly diagnosed in infancy, whereas atrial septal defect (ASD) was often recognized in adulthood (42%). Critical conditions such as D-transposition of great arteries and hypoplastic left heart syndrome were mostly neonatal diagnoses. Gender distribution was balanced overall, though ASD and patent ductus arteriosus were significantly more common in females, while aortic stenosis, D-transposition of the great arteries, and coarctation predominated in males. Ventricular septal defect (30.2%) was the leading acyanotic lesion, while Tetralogy of Fallot (9.4%) was the most common cyanotic CHD.
Conclusions:
This research indicates that acyanotic CHD prevails in Iraq, with VSD being the most common. More than half of the sample was diagnosed by the age of 2. A male predominance was observed throughout indicating a need for early screening with gender consideration. Cite this article as: Al-Hamash SM, Amer AN, Maerozy KAM, Khalid KA. Spectrum of congenital heart diseases in Iraqi patients. Eurasian J Med. 2026, 58(1), 1236, doi: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2026.251236.
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