Spectrum of Congenital Heart Disease in Paediatric Population Presenting to SKBZ Muzaffarabad

Objective: To determine the spectrum of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the pediatric population presenting to SKBZ Muzaffarabad. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional, retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatrics at SKBZ Muzaffarabad from March 2022 to February 2023. Children aged from birth to 5 years, of both genders, diagnosed with congenital heart diseases were included. After collecting demographic information and performing clinical assessments, patients were evaluated for congenital heart disease based on inclusion and exclusion criteria under the guidance of cardiologists. Additionally, relevant data from previous medical records were incorporated, as deemed sufficient for the study's analysis. All data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: The overall mean age of the children was 10.87 months. The most common cyanotic defects were Tetralogy of Fallot (12.2%) and Transposition of the Great Arteries (4.1%). Acyanotic defects included Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) (33.7%) and Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) (12.2%). Other conditions, such as Dilated Cardiomyopathy (8.2%) and Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus (4.1%), were also observed, highlighting the diversity of CHD in the pediatric population. Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) was more prevalent in boys, while Transposition of the Great Arteries was more frequent in girls. However, statistical analysis showed no significant gender-based variation across the various types of CHD (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed a broad spectrum of congenital heart diseases among the pediatric population, with common cyanotic conditions including TOF and Transposition of the Great Arteries and common acyanotic defects such as VSD. Rare conditions like Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Dextrocardia with Situs Inversus were also observed.