Incidence of Severe Congenital Heart Disease at the Province of Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia

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Abstract
Worldwide, congenital heart defects (CHD) are the leading cause of infant deaths owing to congenital anomalies. Knowing the actual incidence of severe CHD is important for defining the requirement for resources and the burden of disease within the total population. Objectives. The aim of the study is to estimate the incidence of severe CHD at the province of Al-Qassim as a reflection of that in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Study Design. A retrospective database review of all cases diagnosed to have severe CHD at Prince Sultan Cardiac Center-Qassim during a 3-year period from January 2008 to December 2010. Results. During the study period, 316 patients were diagnosed to have severe CHD. During the 3-year study period, the total live birth at the province of Al-Qassim was 58 908. The incidence of severe CHD is 5.4/1000 live birth/year. Sixty-five percent of cases were diagnosed at less than 2 months of age, with a median age at diagnosis of 45 days (range of 1 day to 1 year). Ventricular septal defect was the most common lesion diagnosed (22.5%). Collectively, prostaglandin-dependent lesions constitute 38% of cases. Fifteen percent of patients were proved to have a syndrome. The most common syndrome was Down syndrome. Conclusion. Severe CHD is a major health problem at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and worldwide. The incidence of severe CHD likely to require intervention in infancy, in the province of Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia, is 5.4 per 1000 live births.