Open AccessCongenital heart diseases in premature newborns.
Author(s) -
Sana Ilyas,
Sana Waqar,
Asim Khurshid,
Muhammad Sohail Arshad
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the professional medical journal/the professional medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2071-7733
pISSN - 1024-8919
DOI - 10.29309/tpmj/2021.28.08.6126
Subject(s) - medicine , ductus arteriosus , gestational age , neonatology , pediatrics , birth weight , heart disease , low birth weight , gestation , obstetrics , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Objective: To determine the frequency of congenital heart diseases (CHD) in newborns admitted with prematurity. Study Design: Descriptive Cross Sectional study. Setting: Department of Pediatric Neonatology Children’s Hospital & The Institute of Child Health, Multan. Period: August 2019 to January 2020. Material & Methods: A total of 155 preterm infants ≤36 weeks gestation were included. In preterm newborns of either gender, echocardiography was done by hospital Pediatric Cardiologist. Patient’s name, age, gestational age, weight, sex, date, serial number, registration number and echocardiographic results were entered in pre-designed performa. The outcome variable was frequency of congenital heart disease in preterm newborns. Results: Congenital heart disease was detected in 34.8% (n = 54) preterm infants. Nine percent (n=14) were 2.0 kg in weight. Most frequent lesion was Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) in 19 (35%) infants followed by patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in 15 (28%) infants. Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) was seen in 6 (11%) preterm infants. Frequency of CHD was significantly higher (p-value < 0.001) in babies delivered at ≤32 weeks and those infants with with birth weight <1.5 kg. Conclusion: The study highlights the association of congenital heart diseases in premature and low birth weight neonates. So, every preterm and low birth weight neonate must undergo echocardiography to screen for CHD so that earlier diagnosis may be made for earlier intervention.