Characterization of congenital heart diseases in Matanzas province. A thirteen years study

Abstract

Introduction: the increase of congenital heart diseases in recent years and the relevance it has achieved in the province of Matanzas as one of the main causes of infantile death is a matter of concern for specialists; however, management of search for new knowledge in this area of interest is still not enough.
Objective: to characterize morbidity and mortality due to congenital heart disease in the province of Matanzas in the period from January 2002 until December 2014.

Materials and methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in a universe formed by all the patients of pediatric age, diagnosed with congenital heart disease and treated by the Cardiology service of the Teaching Pediatric Hospital “Eliseo Noel Caamaño”. All the children diagnosed by ultrasonography during the embryofetal period were included.

Results: intraventricular communication was the most frequent. There it was a general predominance of heart disease in male patients, and from urban origins, most of them diagnosed at the neonatal stage. The prevalence rate per year shows an increasing tendency, while mortality decreased. Down syndrome was the most common genetic entity associated to congenital heart disease as well as craniofacial malformations.

Conclusions: these results show the true behavior of this entity in our province.