PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS;

ASSOCIATION WITH DIFFERENT RISK FACTORS

Abstract

Background: Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital cardiac
disease of children. Lot of work has been done to evaluate the usefulness of
management procedure including medical management and surgery but there is
no evidence to evaluate the risk factors associated with PDA. Aim: To find out the
association of risk factors leading to patent ductus arteriosus in children. Method: A
case control study was conducted on 240 children, out of which 120 were cases and
120 were controls. Children of 1-15 years of either gender were included in the study
through Simple Random sampling technique. Parents were called for interview and
history of risk factors leading to PDA were asked and noted on questionnaire. Data
was entered and analyzed through the computer software, SPSS version 21. Results:
In this study, we included 240 children with the mean age of 4.86±4.01 years. There
were 88 (37%) males while 152 (63%) were females. The male-to-female ratio was 1:1.7.
The mean height of children was 3.52±1.18 feet and the mean weight of children was
24.98±11.34kg. Through logistic regression, it was observed that family history, over
the counter drugs or antibiotic use during pregnancy, Down’s syndrome and preterm
birth were significantly effecting the occurrence of PDA (P<0.05), while female gender,
smoking status of father and infection during pregnancy including rubella become
insignificant (P>0.05). In logistic regression, it was observed that family history, over
the counter drugs or antibiotic use during pregnancy, Down’s syndrome and preterm
birth were significantly affecting the occurrence of PDA (P<0.05). Conclusion: Female
gender, preterm birth, infection during pregnancy and use of over the counter drugs
in pregnancy, female’s exposure to smoking and multiple drugs and low birth weight
are significant risk factors associated with PDA.