Spectrum of Congenital Heart Diseases in Children: A Single Private Hospital Experience in Baghdad, Iraq

Background: Congenital heart diseases remain the most prevalent birth malformations worldwide, with a rate of approximately 8-10 per 1000 live births. Literature about the spectrum and characteristics of congenital heart disease in Iraqi children is limited . Objective: To investigate the spectrum, clinical presentation, and outcomes of congenital heart diseases in children who presented to a Private Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq, in a five-year period .Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed examining all medical records of children diagnosed with congenital heart disease in the period between January 2019 through December 2023 [n=847]. Collected data consisted of the demographics, types of congenital heart disease, associated congenital anomalies, clinical presentation, and outcomes of the patients . Results: A total of 847 children with congenital heart disease were included with a male predominance [54.2%]. Ventricular septal defect was the most common diagnosis [28.3%] followed by atrial septal defect [19.7%] and patent ductus arteriosus [15.4%]. Eighteen-point-five percent of the cohort was categorized as having complex congenital heart disease. The study showed a 6.7% mortality rate with a predilection for mortality related to complex congenital heart disease and in the neonatal period . Conclusion: The spectrum of congenital heart disease in this population in Baghdad shows an analogous distribution to other international data, with septal defects being the most identified clinical conditions. Early identification of congenital heart disease and delivery of appropriate interventions remains imperative in achieving a favorable outcome.