Study on children with congenital heart disease some factors related to the age at presentation for surgery to National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The frequency of detection of the illness at child welfare clinics and school medical inspections is low. Out of the children who are in schooling age, only 14.5 per cent were detected at the school medical inspection. Out of the whole sample, only 8 children were detected to be having a cardiac illness at child welfare clinics. Total family income, social class, presence of symptoms and type of the illness were found to be associated with the age at presentation for surgery (P0.01). The delays within the referral process following the detection of the illness are also associated with the family income, social class, and standard of living. The delays in detection of CHDs in children can be minimized by careful examination of cardio vascular system of newborns and infants. Establishing a mobile cardiology clinic service might help to reduce the delays in diagnosing CHDs in children who live in the peripheries of the country. Taking necessary steps to make an even distribution of cardiologists within the country will also help to minimize such delays