Congenital Heart Diseases in Down Syndrome Children at Albala Area, Saudi Arabia

Background: The worldwide incidence of DS in literature varies from 1/600 to 800, and 1/554 in Saudi Arabia. The most common syndrome associated with CHD in children is DS, and 40 to 50% of children with Down syndrome were diagnosed to have CHD, with increased incidence with consanguinity. Methodology: This is hospital based retrospective cross sectional study, conducted in King Fahad hospital Albaha, Saudi Arabia. All children with Down features delivered in our hospital or referred to us from other centers and aged from 0-12 years were included and screened by echocardiography. Objectives: The aim of this study was to know the prevalence and the most common types of CHDs in Down syndrome patients at Albala area, Saudi Arabia, and compare it with other studies from Saudi Arabia and international studies. Results: Total of 150 Down syndrome children were screened in this study, 25 (16.7%) patient revealed normal heart, while125 (83.3%) had CHDs. Female pts 71 (56.8%) and male 54 (43.2%). The consanguinity was confirmed in 81 (54%). The most common lesion was found AVSD 61 (48.8%), followed by PDA 23 (18.4%), VSD 16 (12.8%), PFO 11 (8.8%) then ASD 3 (2.4%), TOF 2 (1.6%), TR 4 (2.4%), MR 2 (1.6%), and PS, AR, Epstein anomaly less than 1% for each. The combination of PDA with PFO was found as the most common combination of cardiac lesions in Down syndrome children. Conclusion: The frequency of CHDs in Down syndrome children in Albaha area was higher than other rejoins in Saudi Arabia and reported in studies worldwide. The prevalence of CHDs was slightly higher in children born to consanguineous parents. Atrioventricular septal defect was found as the most common defect.