[Incidence and significance of heart murmurs in newborn infants admitted to nursery].

In a retrospective study on heart murmurs in healthy newborns we reviewed data concerning all newborns admitted in our nursery in the year 1990 (1387 newborns: male 699, female 688). An heart murmur was recorded in 106 (7.6%); in 32 of these (30%) the murmur was still audible at discharge; in 18 cases (17%) a congenital heart defect was diagnosed. Our data suggest that time of onset and intensity are valuable data for diagnostic approach, as murmurs recorded after the first day of life, and/or of intensity of 2/6 or more, are more likely to be expression of a congenital heart disease and should be further evaluated.