In the cardiovascular system, the ventricular septal defect is the most common lesion, as is the experience the world over. Of all organs, the heart was the one with the greatest multiplicity of lesions, which is a reflection of the high-quality pediatric echocardiography service in our institution. Generally, the study revealed multisystem lesions among a significant number of infants, thus reflecting the polymorphous nature of congenital malformation. This figure most likely represents an overestimation of events in the population, since this institution admits only those infants with major malformations and therefore, with poor prognosis. The mortality toll was highest among those with cardiac defects.
Consanguineous marriage is an important correlate of congenital malformation.
We are unable to comment on the etiological correlates of our findings due to limitations of our retrospective study in a purely referral unit. For instance, the parents were rarely available to provide the sociodemographic aspect of the history. Nevertheless, we hope that the present study can be utilized as a database for further surveys. An in-depth analytic research is necessary to determine the possible genetic, sociodemographic and socioenvironmental factors underlying the various types of CM encountered in the Asir region and therefore to consider possible preventive measures. Mortality pattern in Nigerian children in the 1980s.