# Spectrum of Congenital Heart Diseases in Iraqi Patients

## TL;DR

This study reports the types and age of diagnosis for congenital heart diseases in Iraq, finding that acyanotic defects like VSD are most common and often diagnosed in early life.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed spectrum of CHD in Iraq, highlighting age-specific and gender-based patterns of diagnosis.

## Key findings

- Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was the most common CHD, predominantly diagnosed in infancy.
- Atrial septal defect (ASD) was more frequently diagnosed in adulthood and was more common in females.
- Acyanotic CHD accounted for 76.7% of cases, with over half diagnosed by age 2.

## Abstract

Early detection and risk stratification of congenital heart disease (CHD) are of utmost importance for timely management. This study aimed to report on CHD among patients in Baghdad, Iraq.

This prospective study was conducted from September 1, 2022 to September 1, 2023 among 2221 patients of all age groups diagnosed with CHD.

This study analyzed 2221 patients with CHD, of whom 76.7% had acyanotic CHD and 23.3% had cyanotic CHD. The mean age was higher for acyanotic cases (81.3 months) than for cyanotic cases (25.6 months). Almost half (47.5%) of the diagnoses were made in infancy, and 10.9% were made in the neonatal period. Only 13.2% of the diagnoses were made in adulthood. Ventricular septal defect (VSD) was the most frequent lesion, mainly diagnosed in infancy, whereas atrial septal defect (ASD) was often recognized in adulthood (42%). Critical conditions such as D-transposition of great arteries and hypoplastic left heart syndrome were mostly neonatal diagnoses. Gender distribution was balanced overall, though ASD and patent ductus arteriosus were significantly more common in females, while aortic stenosis, D-transposition of the great arteries, and coarctation predominated in males. Ventricular septal defect (30.2%) was the leading acyanotic lesion, while Tetralogy of Fallot (9.4%) was the most common cyanotic CHD.

This research indicates that acyanotic CHD prevails in Iraq, with VSD being the most common. More than half of the sample was diagnosed by the age of 2. A male predominance was observed throughout, indicating a need for early screening with gender consideration.