Neurodevelopmental assessment of children with congenital heart diseases using Trivandrum developmental screening chart.

Objectives: Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are one of the most important congenital anomalies in children which have high-risk for neurodevelopment delay. This study was conducted to determine the proportion of developmental delay in children with CHD and comparison of delay between acyanotic and cyanotic heart diseases in children.

Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on children admitted in pediatric ward of rural hospital from 6 month to 6 years of age who are diagnosed with CHD by 2D ECHO and further classified into acyanotic congenital heart disease (ACHD) and cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD). Neurodevelopmental assessment was done using Trivandrum development screening chart (TDSC).

Results: Out of total 50 children in study population, 24 children had TDSC delay, distribution as 11 (22%) ACHD and 13 (26%) CCHD. Out of 24 children in the age group of 0-3 years, 13 (54.2%) were ACHD and 11 (45.8%) were CCHD. Out of 26 children in the age group of 3-6 years, 15 (57.7%) were ACHD and 11 (42.3%) were CCHD. Among different ACHD included in the study population (0-3 years) children with ventricular septal defect (VSD) were maximum (n = 5) next in the decreasing order was atrial septal defect (ASD) (n = 3). ACHD included in the study population (3-6 years) children with VSD was maximum (n = 6) next in the order was ASD (n = 4). Proportion of delay in children with ACHD was 22% as compared to 26% in children with CCHD.

Conclusion: There is a high proportion of neurodevelopmental delay in children with CHD which can be detected using TDSC which is a simple screening tool and can be used by any health-care professional without training for the assessment of neurodevelopmental outcome in these children. Delay was more in children with CCHD than ACHD.