Early Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease Improves Outcome

Congenital heart disease has an overall incidence of 8-10/1000 live births and is similar across the globe. The incidence may be higher in countries where consanguinity is high, suggesting an autosomal recessive gene as a risk factor. Advances in surgical expertise has improved outcome of simple and complex heart diseases. Early diagnosis and referral to centers caring for such babies is an important contributory factor to a better outcome. This review focuses on early diagnosis of congenital heart disease in neonates and children by Health Care Physicians (General and Family Physicians) and Pediatricians. Careful neonatal and pediatric cardiovascular examination, screening pulse oximetry on all newborns before hospital discharge and an early post natal follow up are important to diagnose CHD.