title: Epidemiological and clinical aspects of congenital heart disease in children in Tuzla Canton, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
abstract: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is among the most frequent of all congenital anomalies. The purpose of this study was to present the results of an initial registration of children with CHD from January 1994 to December 1999 in Tuzla Canton, Bosnia-Herzegovina. The population studied consisted of all 39,699 live-born children in this area. Diagnosis of CHD was made by clinical findings, electrocardiography, chest X-ray, echocardiography, catheterisation or autopsy. In the 6-year period, 243 children were found to have CHD, i.e. a prevalence of 6.12 per 1000 live-born. Critical CHD was present in 58 of them, or 1.46 children per 1000 live-born. The average age at diagnosis was 1.47 years. There were 132 boys (54.3%) and 111 girls. The most frequent anomaly was ventricular septum defect with a prevalence of 2.49 per 1000 live-born, representing 40.7 % of the total anomalies. Of the total group, 46 (18.9%) had extracardiac anomalies related to syndromes. Cardiac surgery was indicated in 98 patients (40.3%) but could only be carried out in 42 (17.3%). A total of 63 (25.9%) patients died, 54 of whom within the 1st month of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  congenital heart disease is a very significant health problem in Tuzla Canton. It requires urgent measures in terms of organisation of early diagnosis and proper management.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Clinic, University Clinical Centre, 75000, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina. bbs.enes@bih.net.ba.
authors.forename: Hidajeta
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Begić
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Clinic, University Clinical Centre, 75000, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Husref
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tahirović
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Clinic, University Clinical Centre, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Senka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mesihović-Dinarević
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Vesna
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ferković
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Clinic, University Clinical Centre, 75000, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Nedima
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Atić
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Clinic, University Clinical Centre, 75000, Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Amila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latifagić
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000453:epidemiology; D017522:Bosnia and Herzegovina / Q000453:epidemiology; D025063:Chromosome Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies