Clinical Characteristics of Congenital Heart Disease in Eastern Indonesia: A Retrospective Study from a Major Referral Center.

BACKGROUND/

OBJECTIVE

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is an abnormality in the heart's structure or function present from birth. Indonesia reports over 40,000 new cases annually. Despite the heavy burden, data on CHD characteristics in East Nusa Tenggara remain limited.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical and demographic characteristics of CHD patients in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, and to describe their presenting symptoms and complications.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of 148 CHD patients enrolled between August 1, 2023, and December 31, 2024, at Prof. W.Z. Johannes Regional Hospital, Kupang. Clinical profiles and demographic data were collected from the cardiology department's registers. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS® version 30.

RESULTS

Acyanotic CHD (ACHD) was more prominent, accounting for 83.7% of cases, with atrial septal defect (ASD) being the most common (30.4%). Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) was the most common type of cyanotic CHD (4.1%). The largest age group was neonates (37.2%). Almost half (45.3%) of the patients were underweight. Respiratory infections (25%) were the most common complication.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study demonstrate the dominance of acyanotic lesions and reveal a high prevalence of malnutrition among CHD patients in Kupang. These findings provide baseline data to enhance early detection, nutritional optimization, and the strengthening of CHD care services in areas of eastern Indonesia.