Congenital heart disease: epidemiological profile of live births, geographical distribution and temporal trends in Brazil from 2012 to 2022.

BACKGROUND

Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) are cardiac and/or intrathoracic vessel structural malformations. Their etiology is predominantly multifactorial, arising from a complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the epidemiological profile, spatial distribution, and temporal trend of reported live births with CHD between 2012 and 2022 nationwide.

METHODS

This study employed a cross-sectional, observational, descriptive design with a quantitative approach. Data on live births were obtained from the Live Birth Information System. The epidemiological profile, spatial distribution, and temporal trend were calculated. The Prais-Winsten generalized linear regression model was applied modelling on the basis of annual prevalence.

RESULTS

Between 2012 and 2022, 23,976 notifications of CHD were reported in Brazil. For the profile, the prevalence was greater in pregnant women over 35 years, yellow and white skin color patients, divorced, with more than 12 years of formal education. The prevalence of CHD in current pregnancies was higher among triplets and higher-order multiples, women with seven or more prenatal visits, deliveries by cesarean section, nonhospital pregnancies, and fetuses presenting in pelvic or podalic positions. Affected neonates were predominantly male, preterm, had extremely low birth weights, and had first- and fifth-minute Apgar scores between 0 and 2 and 3-5, respectively. The most common CHD was septal defects. In terms of spatial distribution, Brazil had a prevalence of 7.65 per 10,000 live births. Southeast and São Paulo presented the highest prevalence rates in the Brazilian region and state, respectively. The temporal trend was increasing in all brazilian regions, with a national EAPC = 13.83; 95% CI = 13.81-13.84; adjusted R² = 0.88.

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: The results highlight the importance of knowledge about CHD, which is essential for planning and implementing effective healthcare strategies for affected neonates. This involves strengthening the training of primary healthcare professionals in prenatal care and expanding neonatal service capacity to ensure early diagnosis and appropriate early clinical management.