title: Congenital heart disease in Saudi Arabia: current epidemiology and future projections.
abstract: To provide an overview of the epidemiology of congenital heart disease, the results of epidemiological studies done in 4 regions of Saudi Arabia (August 1988-February 2000) and 2604 individuals with congenital heart disease were evaluated. Ventricular septal defect was the commonest lesion (33.9%) followed by atrial septal defect (18.1%). Overall, sex distribution was similar; for 3 conditions, more males than females were affected. Of 2269 (59%) presenting in the first year of life, 566 (24.9%) had neonatal congenital heart disease. Down syndrome was the commonest cause. Distribution of specific lesions and sex distribution was similar to findings from other parts of the world; however, the overall detection rate at 1 year of age was lower.
authors.affiliation: King Fahad Hospital, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. hosamyousef90@hotmail.com
authors.forename: A A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Alabdulgader
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D015984:Causality; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D014943:Global Health; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution