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Provincial variability in congenital heart disease prevalence in Argentina, 2014-2019: A population-based analysis

María Clara Vita1, Nicolás Fantozzi1, Federico Méndez Ortiz1

  • 1Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

PLOS Global Public Health
|June 22, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) show significant regional disparities in prevalence and diagnosis timing across Argentina. Improving early detection and equitable access to care is vital for reducing infant mortality.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are a major cause of infant mortality globally.
  • Timely diagnosis and treatment are critical for improving outcomes in neonates with CHDs.
  • Unequal access to specialized care exists in Argentina, impacting early detection rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and diagnosis timing of CHDs and critical CHDs (cCHDs) in live births within Argentina's public health system.
  • To identify geographic disparities in CHD prevalence and diagnostic timeliness across Argentine provinces.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional, descriptive study utilizing aggregated, province-level data from the National Registry of Congenital Heart Diseases.
  • Analysis included live births between 2014-2019 diagnosed with CHDs up to five years of age.
  • Prevalence rates and median age at notification were calculated per province.

Main Results:

  • Over 2.4 million live births yielded 16,150 CHDs (65.3/10,000) and 3,700 cCHDs (15.0/10,000).
  • Significant provincial variation observed: CHD prevalence ranged from 34.9 to 212.2/10,000; cCHD prevalence from 10.7 to 27.3/10,000.
  • National median age at notification was 75 days for CHDs and 29 days for cCHDs, with notable provincial differences.

Conclusions:

  • Substantial provincial variability exists in both CHD prevalence and the timeliness of diagnosis reporting in Argentina.
  • Addressing these geographic disparities is essential for improving early detection and specialized care access.
  • Strengthening public health strategies for CHD management can reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.

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