Incidence In infants and Mortality from Congenital Malformations of the Circulatory System

Summary This study comprises an investigation into the incidence of congenital malformations of the circulatory system in all live births in 1958 among the inhabitants of the municipality of Leiden, and an analysis of the figures concerning congenital malformations of the circulatory system as an underlying cause of death in the Netherlands in the years 1951–1962. In 15 of 1817 children (8%) a congenital malformation of the circulatory system was found. A discussion is included of possible sources of error in the calculation of the incidence reported. The results can be considered as representative for the Netherlands as a whole. This means that the number of infants born alive in this country with a congenital malformation of the circulatory system will currently be about 2000 annually. Up to the present there has not been a decline in mortality figures for congenital malformations of the circulatory system in the Netherlands. Mortality ensues in 80 % of the cases in infancy. The number of infants dying from congenital malformations of the circulatory system is at the moment about 500 annually. One third die in the first week of life, half within the first month.