Global Prevalence of Congenital Heart Disease at High Altitude ~9 Percent

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Sep 26, 2024.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Sept. 26, 2024 -- The global prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) at high altitude is 8.97 percent, according to the results of a review presented at the American College of Cardiology Latin America 2024, held from Sept. 19 to 21 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Jean Pierre Eduardo Zila Velasque, from Red Latinoamericana de Medicina en la Altitud e Investigación in Peru, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to globally characterize CHD in populations based at different altitudinal levels.

Based on data from 22 studies (roughly 1.18 million participants from eight different countries), the researchers found that the prevalence of CHD in the general population was 8.97 percent and was higher in women. The global prevalence varied by altitude: 6.80 percent at 1,500 to 2,500 m, 14.47 percent at 2,500 to 3,500 m, 7.26 percent at 3,500 to 4,500 m, and 1.52 percent at 4,500 m. Atrial septal defect (29.9 percent) was the most frequent heart disease. Rural environments (7.86 percent), native people (12.70 percent), and American countries (32.44 percent) showed higher prevalence.

"The evidence on congenital heart disease is underestimated and underdiagnosed; due to, poor access to the health system or health systems without the essential tools that are characteristic of high-altitude environments; raising concerns that we are likely facing much higher altitude-associated congenital heart disease values than is known," the authors write.

Press Release

More Information

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-09-27 06:00

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords