The Burden Of Congenitial Heart Disease In Children Born To Consanguineous Parents

Abstract

Background: Consanguineous marriages have been a longstanding tradition across various global communities for millennia. The prevalence of such marriages fluctuates among nations and is typically linked to various demographic factors including religion, educational attainment, socioeconomic status, geographic location, population density, and whether individuals reside in rural or urban environments. The prevalence of congenital heart disease among cousins’ marriages has been a topic of interest due to its potential association with genetic factors. Hence, studying congenital heart disease in offspring of consanguineous couples is crucial for enhancing clinical and public health strategies.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the frequency of congenital heart disease in children born to consanguineous parents.

Material and Methods: In this cross sectional study, total of 100 children born to consanguineous parents were included , which was carried out Pediatric Medicine Department, Mardan Medical Complex from 20 November 2021 to 20 May 2022.  Echocardiography was done in the cardiology department of all the included children to detect any congenital heart defect. Data was collected for congenital heart disease according to operational definitions.

Results: The mean age of children born to consanguineous parents was 4.25±2.46 years (range:1-15years). Male children constituted 62% and females 38%, with no significant association between CHD prevalence and gender (p=0.963). Congenital heart disease was observed in 15% of children born to parents in cousin marriages. Among CHD cases, arterial septal defects (ASD), ventricular septal defects (VSD), and Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) were most common. Stratification by age, gender, and parental education revealed a higher prevalence of CHD among children of uneducated parents (28.1%) though this was not statistically significant (p=0.87)

Conclusion: It was found that cousin marriage is a risk factor for congenital heart defects in children.