Complex congenital heart disease in a refugee child.

IntroductionThe total reported birth prevalence of congenital heart disease has increased during the last century and has stabilized at 9 per 1,000 live births in the last 15 years. This corresponds to approximately 1.35 million neonates with congenital heart disease each year, representing a major health care burden. 1There are also significant geographic differences with Asia reporting the highest prevalence of congenital heart disease, mainly right ventricular obstructions. More, access to health care is still limited in many parts of the world, as are diagnostic facilities allowing for the observed difference in prevalence. 1In 2021, the global prevalence of CHD in children under five years was over 4.18 million, reflecting a 3.4% increase since 1990. Consecutively, CHD-associated mortality decreased by 56.2%, and DALYs declined by 55.7% from 1990 to 2021. Low and low-middle Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions had the highest prevalence and mortality rates.2