Regional Epidemiology of Congenital Heart Diseases According to Geographical Districts in Turkey

  • Prof Rana Olguntürk, Gazi University, Medical Faculty, Department of Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • A/Prof Serdar Kula, Gazi University Medical Faculty Pediatric Cardiology Department, Turkey
  • Pediatrician Ayhan Çevik, Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • Prof Fatma Tunaoglu, Turkey
  • Prof Deniz Oguz, Gazi University, Medical Faculty, Department of Pediatric Cardiology , Ankara, Turkey
  • A/Prof Cihat Sanli, Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Ankara, Turkey
  • A/Prof Mustafa Ilhan, Turkey

    • Aim: To predict distrubition of congenital heart disease in Turkey and comparison of the geograhical regions.
    Material Method: The medical records of 1300 patients with congenital heart disease admitted to Gazi University Department of Pediatric Cardiology during 1997–2007 were reviewed. The patients were divided into 7 groups according to the their origins and each group were divided into two groups as simple (Group 1) and complex (Group2) congenital heart disease.
    Results: Among the 1300 cases, there was no difference between the regions regarding mean age and male/female ratio. In three region had high incidence of complex cardiac malformations then others (p<0.05)
    Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study about distrubition of congenital heart disease in our country. The incidence of Group 2 patients was high in three regions which had smilar socioeconomically and geographic specialities. In fact, these regions are affected more sunlight through the summer session then others. Additionally, the frequency of the intermarriage (29.1 %) and child count per family is high (5-15) in these regions. This is the limitation of our study because of these parameters were not available in our records. Nevertheless, this study may play an important role for further prospective studies in this subject.