Abstract

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the pattern and clinical manifestations of structural cardiac diseases among adolescents attending UNTH, Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: A retrospective analysis with structural cardiac cases with symptoms presumed to be of cardiac origin or on referral seen among adolescents attending both the children outpatient clinic and cardiology clinic.

Results: The prevalence rates of cardiac diseases among these adolescents was 0.35% (58/167); 0.20% (34/167) for congenital and 0.14% (24/167) for acquired heart diseases. The commonest structural heart disease observed in these adolescents was Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), diagnosed in 22.4% (13/58) of them, followed by Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), and observed in 17.2% (10/58). Among those with congenital heart disease, surgery was performed in 31.8% (11/34) of the subjects. However, following surgery, 78.6% (11/14) still has residual heart defect.

Conclusion: The results of this study show that 0.35% (58/167) per cent of adolescents who presented with clinical manifestations or were on referral and seen in UNTH had structural cardiac abnormalities with over half having residual lesion after surgery.

Keywords: Pattern; Heart diseases; Adolescents; Enugu