Risk Factors for Mortality in Children with Congenital Heart Disease Delivered at a Brazilian Tertiary Center

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the incidence of postnatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) and the predictive factors for hospital mortality. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at a Brazilian tertiary center, and data were collected from medical records with inclusion criteria defined as any newborn with CHD diagnosed in the postnatal period delivered between 2015 and 2017. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the potential risk factors for mortality. RESULTS: During the 3-year period, 119 (5.3%) children of the 2215 children delivered at our institution were diagnosed with CHD. We considered birth weight (P=0.005), 1(st) min Apgar score (P=0.001), and CHD complexity (P=0.013) as independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality. The most common CHD was ventricular septal defect. Indeed, 60.5% cases were considered as "complex" or "significant" CHDs. Heart surgeries were performed on 38.9% children, 15 of whom had "complex" or "significant" CHD. A mortality rate of 42% was observed in this cohort, with 28% occurring within the initial 24 h after delivery and 38% occurring in patients admitted for heart surgery. CONCLUSION: The postnatal incidence of CHD at our service was 5.3%. Low 1(st) min Apgar score, low birth weight, and CHD complexity were the independent factors that affected the hospital outcome.