OBJECTIVES: To study the association of consanguinity as a risk factor for congenital heart diseases (CHDs).

METHODS: Patients with suggestive signs of CHD admitted to the Al-Ramadi Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Anbar Governorate, Iraq from January 2009 to January 2010 were subject to diagnostic investigations. Case data includes: name, age, gender, and cause of admission. Parents data includes: age, residence, degree of consanguinity, and history of family recurrent CHDs. Three controls to one case (3:1) were selected to compare their consanguinity with the CHD cases. Odds ratio was used for the measurement of consanguinity and other variable risks on CHD occurrence.

RESULTS: The CHD cases were 86. Selected controls were 258 non-CHD cases. The most recorded subtypes were ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), and tetralogy of fallot (ToF). Consanguinity was found in 78% of cases and 43.3% in controls. First cousin consanguinity comprised 66.2% in cases and 35.6% in controls from all their marriages. Consanguinity was found a significant risk factor, more affecting the VSD and ASD than ToF subtypes, while parental age and infant gender were not found as risk factors.

CONCLUSIONS: Consanguinity proved to be a risk factor for CHD. Further social education of the risks of consanguineous marriages in this tribal population is needed to reduce the prevalence of these morbid and mortal anomalies.