[Incidence of congenital heart disease in navarra (1989-1998)].
OBJECTIVE
Congenital cardiopathies are the most common forms of congenital malformation. They occur in between 5.2 and 12.5 in every thousand live births. The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and nature of congenital heart disease in the Spanish region of Navarra during a specified time period (1989-1998).


METHODS
The study involved all children with congenital heart disease among the 47 783 born in the region in the specified time period.


RESULTS
The incidence was 8.96 per thousand live births, with 90% having one of the 10 most common types of cardiac malformation. The accumulative percentage diagnosed was 25.3% in the first 24 hours of life, 45% in the first week, 65% in the first month, and 83.1% during the first year. Some 30.8% of cases of congenital heart disease required invasive treatment: 25.4% underwent surgery and 6.4%, cardiac catheterization.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of congenital heart disease in Navarra falls within the range reported for developed countries. The level of care provided in this region is good, as demonstrated by existing diagnostic capabilities and treatment provision.
Martínez Olorón
Patricia
P
Departamento de Neonatología, Hospital Virgen del Camino, Pamplona, Spain. pmartino@cfnavarra.es
Romero Ibarra
Carlos
C
Alzina de Aguilar
Valentín
V
D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain