To describe the epidemiology and geographical distribution of congenital heart disease. A retrospective population-based study was conducted using data collected in a large tertiary care hospital in Turkey. Materials and methods: The medical records of 1300 patients with congenital heart disease admitted to the Gazi University Department of Pediatric Cardiology for catheter angiography from 1997-2007 were reviewed. The patients were divided into 7 groups according to geographical distribution, and each group was further divided into 2 groups, for simple (group 1) and complex (group 2) congenital heart disease. Results: Among the 1300 cases, there was no difference between the regions regarding mean age, mean diagnostic age, and female/male (F/M) ratio. In 3 regions that have similar geographic and climatic features, a high incidence of complex cardiac malformations was observed (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study of the distribution of congenital heart disease in Turkey. Although etiological data is not sufficient to explain the findings, this study may play an important role in further prospective studies about this issue.

To describe the epidemiology and geographical distribution of congenital heart disease. A retrospective population-based study was conducted using data collected in a large tertiary care hospital in Turkey. Materials and methods: The medical records of 1300 patients with congenital heart disease admitted to the Gazi University Department of Pediatric Cardiology for catheter angiography from 1997-2007 were reviewed. The patients were divided into 7 groups according to geographical distribution, and each group was further divided into 2 groups, for simple (group 1) and complex (group 2) congenital heart disease. Results: Among the 1300 cases, there was no difference between the regions regarding mean age, mean diagnostic age, and female/male (F/M) ratio. In 3 regions that have similar geographic and climatic features, a high incidence of complex cardiac malformations was observed (P < 0.05). Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study of the distribution of congenital heart disease in Turkey. Although etiological data is not sufficient to explain the findings, this study may play an important role in further prospective studies about this issue.