Epidemiology of congenital heart defects in the Knin area during a five-year period (2008-2013)

Abstract

Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) are the most common cause of death in perinatal and early neonatal period. The aim of this study is to analyze the frequency and type of CHD among children living in the Knin area in the period between April 1, 2008 to April 1, 2013, to evaluate the eff ect of environment and positive family history on the CHD incidence and treatment outcome The study was conducted over a fi ve-year period and it involved 1068 children born in this period in Knin and surrounding area. We fi lled in a questionnaire on CHD trend in the above mentioned population. Frequency of CHD among children in the Knin area in the specifi ed period is 28 ‰ and is signifi cantly (p<0,001) higher than the prevalence of CHD in the rest of Croatia as established by two extensive epidemiological studies. . Among children with CHD, 16.1% had a severe heart defect 16.1% had positive family history, and 16.1% had a positive history of some other inherited disease in a family. None harmful factors or substances were registered in the living or working environment of parents. The higher prevalence of CHD in the Knin area compared to other Croatian regions could be explained by the genetic load of the refugees coming in the Knin region from the secluded enclaves of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo and by above average diagnostic facilities.