PROFILE OF CARDIAC DISEASE IN AN OUTPATIENT CARDIAC CLINIC

The pattern of cardiac disease differs from one region of the world to that of another. This paper aims at providing the profile of heart di sease as seen in a Children's Hospital. A total of 468 patients were s een in a follow-up conducted between August 1989 and February 29, 1992 . Among these 168 (35.9%) had congenital heart disease (CHD); 278 (59. 4%) had rheumatic heart disease (RHD); while 14 (3%) had acquired hear t disease of non-rheumatic origin. In patients having RHD, the mitral valve was commonly affected. Ventricular septal defect was the commone st CHD seen followed by Patent ductus arteriosus. The results show tha t RHD is the commonest heart disease seen in a Children's Hospital in Addis Ababa. It is recommended that the issues of school surveillance, better organized secondary prophylaxis need to be addressed.