Epidemiologic Study of Congenital Heart Diseases and Its Related Factors in Children Referred to the Pediatric Cardiac Clinic of Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Background: Congenital heart disease is the most common type of maternal abnormality and is the leading cause of mortality in the first year of life. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological and related factors of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children referred to the pediatric heart clinic of Vali-e-Asr Hospital of Birjand, Iran. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study, the study population included 300 patients with congenital heart disease who referred to the Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Birjand, Iran. A checklist form was used to complete the information contained in the patient records and contact their parents. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16.0 at a significance level of p≤0.05. Results: The mean age of children with CHD at the time of diagnosis was 1.25 ± 2.92 years. 156 (52%) were male. The most common type of CHD included ventricular septal defect (28.7%), patent ductus arteriosus (18.2%), and atrial septal defect (14.6%). Down syndrome (3.8%) was the most common anomaly. In 57% of cases, there was a familial relationship between parents. There was a significant statistical difference between drug use in pregnancy, maternal age, age of patients, mother's education level, place of residency, and familial relationship of parents and CHD in the children p≤0.05. Conclusion: Based on the results, the most common type of CHD included ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and atrial septal defect, respectively. There was a relationship between baseline and clinical characteristics (maternal age, patient age, familial relationship, and drug use in pregnancy), and CHD in the children.