Prevalence and time trend of congenital heart defects: a registry-based study in Iran

Introduction Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are one of the most common types of congenital anomalies affecting nearly one percent of births every year. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence and time trend of CHD in the northwest of Iran between 2000 and 2019. Methods Since 2000, infants born with birth defects have been registered in Tabriz Registry of Congenital Anomalies (TRoCA). For this study, the information and data of newborns with CHD (n=1084) were collected using the TRoCA registry system. Results Over the two decades, the prevalence rate of CHD in the northwest of Iran was 3.7 per 1000 live births (95 percent CI: 34.9 to 39.4). The prevalence rate of CHD during the first decade (2000-09) and the second (2010-19) were estimated 2.8 (95 percent CI: 2.5 to 2.9) and 5.9 (95 percent CI: 5.4 to 6.4) per 1000 live births, respectively. Conclusion The prevalence rate of CHD in the TRoCA registry area showed an increasing trend indicating methodological improvement in the facilities and diagnosis techniques. It would therefore seem essential to concentrate on the primary prevention activities to reduce the burden of these defects.