Death in infancy from unrecognised congenital heart disease

This study was undertaken to identify all congenital heart disease in infancy, including deaths before diagnosis, to provide a truer picture of the spectrum of congenital heart disease and to assess the 'treatability' of those dying before diagnosis. All births, infant deaths, and survivin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of disease in childhood 1994-07, Vol.71 (1), p.3-7
Main Authors: Abu-Harb, M, Hey, E, Wren, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abnormalities, Multiple
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiology. Vascular system
Cardiovascular diseases
Cause of Death
Congenital defects
Congenital heart diseases. Malformations of the aorta, pulmonary vessels and vena cava
Diagnosis
England - epidemiology
Epidemiology
Heart
Heart Defects, Congenital - complications
Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnosis
Heart Defects, Congenital - genetics
Heart Defects, Congenital - mortality
Heart diseases
Humans
Infant
Infant Mortality
Infant, Newborn
Infants
Medical sciences
Pediatrics
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Trisomy
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Summary:This study was undertaken to identify all congenital heart disease in infancy, including deaths before diagnosis, to provide a truer picture of the spectrum of congenital heart disease and to assess the 'treatability' of those dying before diagnosis. All births, infant deaths, and surviving babies with congenital heart disease in one health region in 1985-90 were identified and were classified as 'complex', 'significant', or 'minor'. Of the 1074 infants diagnosed in infancy, 185 died and 56 of these (30%) died undiagnosed. Severe non-cardiac malformations were present in 29 of the 56 while 27 were otherwise normal. Cardiovascular abnormalities in the latter group were complex in 13/27 and significant in 14/27. Identification of undiagnosed cardiovascular anomalies will improve epidemiological evaluation of congenital heart disease and, more importantly, earlier recognition of treatable abnormalities may reduce mortality.
ISSN:0003-9888
1468-2044
DOI:10.1136/adc.71.1.3