OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiological characteristics of congenital heart disease (COHD) among 4 to 17 years old children in Haidong area of Qinghai province.

METHODSAll 97 718 children were surveyed with the following 3 steps: prescreening, countershock and confirmation with color Doppler. The distribution patterns were analyzed by national groups, ages and genders respectively.

RESULTSThere were 496 COHD cases detected. The total incidence was 5.076 per thousand (496/97 718). The incidences of male and female were 5.046 per thousand (256/50 730) and 5.108 per thousand (240/46 988) (chi(2) = 0.018, P > 0.05). There was a significant difference between Pingan county and the others (chi(2) = 10.62, P < 0.01). The highest incidence was in Ledu (5.46 per thousand), the incidences of Huzhu and Pingan county were 5.45 per thousand and 3.64 per thousand respectively. There was no significant difference among different national groups (chi(2) = 0.33, P > 0.05). Among 496 COHD cases, the ratio of atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were 37.30%, 35.69% and 22.18% respectively.

CONCLUSIONTotal incidence of COHD was 5.076 per thousand in Haidong area of Qinghai province. The incidence was not different in both genders and national groups. The constitution of COHD in different counties were different.