Pervalence of the Ethiology of CHF among Patients Admitted at Shahid Beheshti Heart Center

History & Objective:  Congestive heart failure (CHF) is one of the most common diseases among children. CHF is important in pediatric medicine because of certain complications such as failure to thrive, recurrent respiratory infections, socioeconomic limitation, renal failure, and brain damages secondary to hypoglycemia and siezure. This study was done to recognize the ethilogy of CHF and to present a suitable ways for its prevention.

Methods: The subjects of this descriptive study included 94 children under 13, being  admitted at the pediatric ward of Shahid Beheshti Heart Center with CHF diagnosis during 1377. The diagnosis of CHF, done by a pediatric cardiologist , was based on the history, clinical manifestation, physical examination, and radiographic changes. Identification of ethiology was also based on clinical signs and physical examination, as well as  echo cardiography, chest radiography and, electrocardiograph.

Results: Data analysis showed the most common cause of CHF among subjects of the study were Congenitial Heart Disease (CHD), especially multiple lesions(36%) and ِAtrial Septal Defect(ASD)(22%) with ASD and VSD complex being more common than other complexes.

Discussion: Opposite to available literature this  study showed that ASD was one of the most common cause of CHF among our patients. Since ASD is very common in this district early operation of such patients is of paramount importance.