HIGH PREVALENCE OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AMONG REFERRED PEDIATRIC CARDIAC CASES IN BISHA, SAUDI ARABIA: NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE SCREENING PROGRAM

Abstract

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the common health problems in children in the Middle Eastern region including Saudi Arabia. This study was designed to find the types and prevalence of children with congenital heart diseases in Bisha, southwestern Saudi Arabia, where CHD in children is being referred to the pediatric cardiologist. The study also attempted to relate the results to other studies conducted within the country and to other bordering countries. This is a retrospective, between 2017 and 2021, the author conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study on children referred to a pediatric cardiologist. Referrals were received from 5 rural clinics and 78 primary health facilities. All the referred patients were administered the standard history, clinical assessment, chest x-ray, ECG, and later echocardiographic assessment. Out of 954 patients, about half were confirmed to have CHD. The commonest forms of VSD and other forms like patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis were found in the rest of the patients. The study shows the concerning availability of heart disease, with half the children from the region being referred with heart disease being diagnosed. The results support the urgent necessity of establishing screening programs in primary health care and telephone follow-ups in the hospitals’ peripheral branches for the early diagnosis and management of CHD.