An Observational Study of Frequency and Profile of Congenital Heart Diseases in Neonates Born in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background and Objective: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly and a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. Early identification through systematic clinical evaluation and pulse oximetry screening facilitates timely intervention and improves outcomes. This study assessed the frequency, clinical profile, diagnostic findings, management, and outcomes of CHD among neonates born at a tertiary care hospital.

Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted over 12 months in a tertiary care center. A total of 165 inborn neonates with structurally confirmed CHD on two-dimensional echocardiography were enrolled. All neonates underwent detailed clinical examination, pulse oximetry screening, and echocardiographic evaluation when indicated. Clinical characteristics, echocardiographic findings, management, and outcomes were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Among 8,534 live births, 165 neonates were diagnosed with CHD, yielding an overall prevalence of 1.9%. The prevalence was higher among NICU admissions (5.8%) than postnatal ward neonates (0.7%). Most cases (84.2%) were diagnosed during the first week of life. Tachypnea (58.7%) was the commonest presenting symptom, while cardiac murmur (89.7%) was the predominant clinical sign. Prenatal diagnosis was achieved in only 9.1% of cases. Pulse oximetry screening identified CHD in 60% of neonates with positive screening results. Acyanotic CHD accounted for 82.5% of cases, with ventricular septal defect (24.8%) being the commonest lesion, followed by patent ductus arteriosus (21.8%) and atrial septal defect (17.5%).

Conclusions: Congenital heart disease was diagnosed in 1.9% of neonates, with most cases identified during the first week of life. Acyanotic lesions predominated, particularly ventricular septal defects.