Frequency and spectrum of congenital heart defects among live births in Germany A study of the competence network for congenital heart defects

• Published in: Clinical research in cardiology Vol. 100; no. 12; pp. 1111 - 1117
• Main Authors: Schwedler, Gerda, Lindinger, Angelika, Lange, Peter E., Sax, Ulrich, Olchvary, Julianna, Peters, Brigitte, Bauer, Ulrike, Hense, Hans-Werner
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-12-2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Cardiology; Early Diagnosis; Germany - epidemiology; Health Surveys; Heart Defects, Congenital - diagnostic imaging; Heart Defects, Congenital - epidemiology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Live Birth - epidemiology; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Paper; Predictive Value of Tests; Prevalence; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Prevalence; Competence network for congenital heart defects; Live births; Congenital heart defects
• ISSN: 1861-0684; 1861-0692
• DOI: 10.1007/s00392-011-0355-7

Background
Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common single organ malformations in humans. A comprehensive study was initiated within the Competence Network for Congenital Heart Defects to assess population-based nationwide prevalence data for Germany.
Methods
Study register of demographic and medical data of live births with CHD born between July 2006 and June 2007.
Results
Seven thousand two hundred forty-five live births and infants with CHD were registered in Germany by 260 participating institutions (prevalence 107.6 per 10,000 live births). The most common lesions were ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and valvular pulmonary stenosis with 52.7, 18.3 and 6.6 per 10,000 live births, respectively. A single ventricle, tetralogy of Fallot and the complete transposition of the great arteries were the most common severe cardiac lesions (3.0, 2.7 and 2.3 per 10,000 live births). Parents reported that prenatal echocardiography had been performed in 53.8% of severe CHD cases with a cardiac defect detected in 77.5% of them.
Conclusion
The reported prevalences of severe CHD are within the range of regional and European comparative data. The prenatal detection rate of severe cardiovascular malformations is comparable to contemporary European registries. Postnatal diagnosis of the CHD has been made early in life.