Epidemiology of congenital malformations of cardiac septa in Russian Federation

Abstract

Congenital cardiac septal defects (ICD-10: Q21) are one of the most common groups of congenital malformations and are multifactorial in nature, driven by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors, which remain largely unknown. Therefore, understanding their epidemiological characteristics is essential for studying the causes and prevalence of congenital cardiac septal defects. Objective . To study the epidemiological characteristics of congenital cardiac septal defects using a congenital malformations monitoring database in the regions of the Russian Federation. Materials and Methods . The analysis included data on congenital cardiac septal defects from a congenital malformations monitoring database in 22 regions of Russia for 2011–2023. Cases of congenital cardiac septal defects in live and stillborn children, as well as data on fetuses with heart defects diagnosed prenatally, were included. The incidence of the defect was calculated per 10,000 births. Results . The study revealed a wide range of regional incidences of cardiac septal defects, ranging from 16.26 to 231.45 per 10,000 births. The average incidence across all regions was 100.33 per 10,000 births. The sex ratio among affected children was 1M:1F. Over the study period, a slight positive trend in the incidence of these defects was recorded across regions, but divergent trends were observed at the regional level. Risk factors include low birth weight (under 3000 g) and maternal age over 35 years. Young mothers (ages 16 to 19) have the lowest incidence of children with congenital cardiac septal defects. Conclusion . Data from epidemiological monitoring of congenital malformations indicate that congenital defects of the cardiac septum remain a common pathology with no tendency to decrease.