[Distribution of congenital heart disease in Croatia and outcome analysis. A Croatian epidemiological study (2002-2007)].

OBJECTIVE The aim of our paper is to show results of population and hospital registry of congenital heart disease in Croatia. METHODS Information on patients born during the five-year study and with diagnosis of congenital heart defects, obtained all across the country, were collected in the population and hospital registry set up according to the EUROCAT and BWIS registries principles. RESULTS Between October 1, 2002, and October 1 2007, there were 205051 live births in Croatia, of which 1480 patients were diagnosed with congenital heart defects, accounting for 0.72% of the live-born children. The most common diagnosis was ventricular septal defect with percentage of 34.6%. Among 1480 children, 430 needed an operation. Among 553 cardiac surgeries performed, 202 were done in Croatia and others were done in institutions abroad. Mortality rate after surgery was 5%. Only after adjustment for complexity there are marked differences in mortality and occurrence of postoperative complications between Croatia and centers abroad. CONCLUSION The importance of the registry of congenital heart disease relies in the field of epidemiological research but can be used as a tool for future planning of health services.