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[The sex distribution of congenital cardiopathies]
Insights
Sex distribution in congenital heart disease is generally equal, but specific conditions show male or female predominance. Understanding these patterns is crucial for predicting recurrence risks.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Genetics and Development
Context:
- Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects infants and children.
- Understanding sex distribution in CHD is important for clinical management.
Purpose:
- To analyze sex differences in the prevalence of various congenital heart disease types.
- To determine if sex distribution patterns can predict recurrence risks.
Summary:
- A 17-year study of 4150 children revealed an overall equal sex distribution (1.03 male to female ratio).
- Specific CHDs showed marked male predominance (e.g., hypoplastic left heart syndrome, 85%) or female predominance (e.g., persistent ductus arteriosus, 72%).
- Congenital rubella syndrome with persistent ductus arteriosus had a balanced sex distribution (56%).
Impact:
- Highlights significant sex-specific variations in CHD prevalence.
- Emphasizes the clinical importance of sex distribution for predicting CHD recurrence risk.
- Provides data for targeted research and potential sex-based therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
For 17 years, 4150 infants and children under 13 years of age with final diagnosis of well defined congenital heart disease were studied and the pattern of sex differences are reported. In general, the sex distribution was equal: 2108 males (50.8%) and 2042 females (49.2%) with a male to female ratio of 1.03. Male sex predominance was marked for the following specific lesions: aortic stenosis (valvar and subvalvular) (70%), coarctation of the aorta (66%), transposition of the great arteries (60%), univentricular heart (76%), tricuspid atresia (63%), Ebstein anomaly (76%), hypoplastic left heart syndrome (85%), vascular rings (77%) and right midventricular stenosis (70%). Female sex predominance was marked for the following specific lesions: Persistent ductus arteriosus (72%), atrioventricular septal defects (62%) supravalvular aortic stenosis (71%) and isolated infundibular pulmonic stenosis (80%). A more balanced sex distribution was confirmed for cases of congenital rubella syndrome with persistent ductus arteriosus as isolated cardiovascular malformation (56%). The Importance to establish the sex dominance is emphasized as predictive of recurrence risk of congenital heart disease.