[Prevalence of congenital heart disease in 44,985 newborns in Colombia].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of congenital heart defects in Colombia using the methodology of the Latin-American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC, for its initials in Spanish) and to make an epidemiological description of the study population.


METHODS
A prospective case-control study nested to a hospital-based cohort included 44,985 infants born from June 1, 2001 to April 30, 2005 in 11 Colombian hospitals.


RESULTS
Fifty-five cases were reported (1.2 per 1,000); 36 (65.5%) corresponded to severe defects and 18 (32.7%) had associated extracardiac malformations. The following risk factors were identified: maternal age > or = 40 years, paternal age > or = 30 years, gestational age < or = 37 weeks, birth weight < or = 3,000 g and > or = 3 pregnancies.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows a similar prevalence of congenital heart disease to that found in Spain, Mexico, and South America. Risk factors identified emphasize the need for public health policies in a developing country undergoing an epidemiological transition.
Baltaxe
Erik
E
Instituto de Genética Humana, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia.
Zarante
Ignacio
I
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies