Trends in Cardiovascular Mortality among Children who were Admitted to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Institutional Based Cross Sectional Study
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Date
2025-04-15
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality among children, particularly in low-resource settings like sub-Saharan Africa, where access to specialized care is limited. Despite the growing burden of pediatric cardiovascular conditions, there is a paucity of data on trends and outcomes in this region. This study aimed to analyze trends in cardiovascular mortality and identify factors associated with poor outcomes among children admitted to Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia’s largest tertiary care center.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using hospital records of children aged 0–14 years admitted with cardiovascular conditions from 2019 to 2025. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical variables, diagnoses, treatments, and outcomes were extracted. Descriptive statistics (percentages, means) were used to summarize variables, and frequencies of cardiovascular mortality causes were calculated with proportions (95% confidence intervals). Univariate analysis and linear regression were performed to identify factors associated with cardiovascular deaths.
Results: There were 1601 deaths documented during the study period. The yearly mean mortality was 16.5% with Standard deviation of 4.63.Congenital heart defects (87.2%) were the leading underlying cause of death, followed by Rheumatic Heart Disease (8.3%) and dilated cardiomyopathy (1.8%). Immediate causes of mortality included overwhelming sepsis (19.7%), refractory septic shock (17.0%), and refractory cardiogenic shock (12.4%).Sepsis (61.5%) was the most common comorbidity, followed by respiratory infections (17.4%) and neurological issues (5.5 The surgical or device intervention access and presence of arrhythmia predicted trends of CVS mortality and were significantly associated with outcomes (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Cardiovascular mortality among children at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital remains a significant public health concern, with congenital heart defects being the leading cause of death. The findings highlight the need for early diagnosis, improved access to specialized care, and targeted interventions to reduce preventable deaths. This study provides critical evidence to guide policy and clinical practice in addressing pediatric cardiovascular mortality in low-resource settings.
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Trends in Cardiovascular Mortality