Akinkunmi B.F^{1, 2,}, Odunlade C.O^{1, 2}, Kumolalo F.O^{3, 4}, Afe D^{1, 2}, Osundare Y.J^{1, 2}, Adegbola J.O², Akinduro-Ajiga E⁵, Akinkunmi O.E⁶

Introduction Recent studies suggest that cardiovascular diseases contribute substantially to childhood morbidity in Sub-Saharan Africa where paediatric cardiac services are scarce. We aim to provide empirical data on disease types, frequencies, demographic distribution, to influence health policy formulation, better resource allocation and targeted interventions. Materials and Methods A four-year retrospective review of records of patients aged 0 -15years from August 2020 to July 2024, with cardiac diseases at the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), Ondo, Nigeria. Age at presentation, sex, presenting complaints, anthropometric measurements, echocardiographic findings, treatment received, and the outcome of care were extracted and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 Results A total of 45 patients aged 0 to 15 years were included in this study. Their mean age was 65.4 months (SD ± 49.1) with a M: F of 1.2:1. (25: 20). Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) accounted for 88.9% (n = 40) of all cases while acquired heart diseases constituted 11.1% (n = 5). Within the congenital group, acyanotic and cyanotic lesions were 75.0% (n = 30) and 25.0% (n = 10) respectively. The most frequently echocardiographic diagnosed lesions were ventricular septal defect (VSD), 28.9% (n=13), Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), 20.0% (n=9), and atrioventricular canal defect (AVCD) 7 (15.6%), Three patients (6.7%) had open heart surgery. Twenty-seven of the patients (60.0%) were alive and followed-up till the end of the study period, 13 patients (28.9%) were lost to follow-up and mortality was recorded in 11.1% (n=5). Conclusion This study demonstrates a high burden of paediatric cardiac disease in a semi-urban Nigerian tertiary hospital, with CHDs being the most prevalent and largely untreated surgically. The findings call for urgent improvements in screening, diagnostics, referral pathways, and surgical access.

Cardiac Diseases, congenital heart diseases, echocardiography