Epidemiological Profile: An Important Step in the Organization of Medical Care

, they still represent a significant burden of disease whose impact could be potentially avoided. Liu et al., 6 in a large meta-analysis, detected a progressive increase in the incidence of CHD in most countries around the world, predominantly of smaller defects (ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus), most likely reflecting an improved detection through the dissemination of the use of echocardiography. 6 In a country with continental dimensions, such as Brazil, healthcare programs take on distinct aspects in each macro-region according to the available resources and local health policies. In all regions, however, the lack of diagnosis is a major issue, together with the unavailability of hospital beds, the difficulty to refer patients to specialized centers