Pattern of cardiac diseases among children in a tertiary hospital in North Central, Nigeria: A three and half years retrospective cohort echocardiographic study

Abstract

Background: Cardiac disease is an important noncommunicable disease encountered among paediatric populations with varying patterns in different regions. This study is aimed at finding the spectrum of cardiac diseases among the paediatric patients seen at Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi Nigeria. Method: A retrospective review of all cardiology patients seen at both in- and out-patient units of the paediatric department of BSUTH between June 2012 to December 2015. Data on age, gender, presenting complaints, final diagnosis, investigations, intervention and treatment outcome were obtained from the case folders. The analysis of the data was done with Excel spreadsheet and the results were presented as frequency and percentages. Results: Of the 8590 patients seen, 39 (0.45%) had cardiac diseases. The mean age of the patients was 60.2±59 months with Male: Female of 1.1:1. Twenty-eight (71.7%) of them had congenital heart disease (CHD) with the most prevalent type been acyanotic CHD among 21(53.8%). Ventricular septal defect (VSD) accounted for 15(71.4%) of the 21 (53.8%) patients. Hypertensive heart disease was found in one (2.6%) patient who was an obese adolescent. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease (CHD) and acquired heart disease (AHD) were all represented in this cohort with CHD being the most prevalent. Keywords: Cardiac disease, Children, Pattern, Tertiary Hospital, Echocardiography