Analysis of the risk factors of congenital heart diseases

Objective To investigate the different types of neonatal congenital heart diseases (CHD) and their correlative risk factors for the purpose of establishing early prophylaxis and treatment. Methods A case-control study was performed between 165 cases with CHD and 202 normal newborns. All the subjects were the in-patient newborns in our pediatric ward from Jan 2004 to Dec 2008. Results Total 165 infants with congenital heart diseases were detected. The most common deformations were ventricular septal defect,accounting for 52.7% (87 cases),followed by 17 atrial septal defect cases (10.3%). About 29.7% of all the cases were classified into complex congenital heart disease group,such as complete transposition of great vessels and tetralogy of fallot. Most of them were found to be complicated with other organ malformations. The risk factors linked to CHD are inappropriate drug use for common cold or threatening abortion,gestational hypertension disease,elder pregnant women,gestational diabetes mellitus,contact history of poisonous chemistry,history of drinking or smoking,and various virus infection. Conclusion In order to decrease the occurence of CHD,prenatal health education should be strengthened to improve the awareness of protection in child-bearing women and pregnant women.The exposure to environmental pollution should be reduced,and at the same time,the prenatal or postpartum diagnostic technique should be improved for the benefit of early prevention and treatment.