N 6 (197) 2025. P. 70–79

CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS IN CHILDREN: THE CURRENT STATE OF THE PROBLEM AND CHALLENGES FOR THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

M. H. Melnychenko, V. P. Buzovskyi, I. V. Yurchenko

Odesa National Medical University, Odesa, Ukraine

DOI 10.32782/2226-2008-2025-6-11

Background. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are among the most common congenital anomalies worldwide. They adversely affect human health, lead to disability, and remain a leading cause of infant mortality.

Objective. To summarize the global prevalence of CHDs among live-born children and worldwide trends in improving diagnosis and treatment. The term “trends” refers to temporal changes in the reported prevalence of CHDs and mortality rates, which depend on healthcare system factors, including screening organization, case registration, and access to treatment.

Results. The global prevalence of CHDs ranges from 8 to 12 ‰. Structurally, the most common defects are VSD (40%), ASD (14%), PDA (10%), PS (7.6%), TOF (5.5%), CoA (4.7%), TGA (3.7%), HLHS (2.6%). With timely surgical intervention, up to 95% of affected children survive. In Ukraine, approximately 4.500 children with CHDs are born annually, of whom about 30–40% require surgical treatment during the first year of life.

Key words: congenital heart defects, children, healthcare system, challenges for the healthcare system.

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