KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Health Nexus In Press 2027 01 01 Impact of Familial Congenital Heart Disease on the Clinical Phenotype of Ventricular Septal Defect in Iraqi Patients Impact of Familial Congenital Heart Disease on the Clinical Phenotype of Ventricular Septal Defect in Iraqi Patients 1 14 EN Journal Article 2026 05 11 <p>Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common type of cardiovascular malformation and a major risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in newborns. Accumulating evidence and previous studies have pointed to genetic defects in its developmental mechanism. However, due to the genetic diversity of this defect, the genetic factors contributing to its clinical presentation in the majority of patients remain unknown. This pilot study will describe the impact of a family history of congenital heart disease on the clinical presentation of patients with VSD. Patients and Methodology: Data were proactively collected from 100 patients at the Najaf Heart Center, Najaf, Iraq, who underwent surgical closure of a VSD. These factors included age, weight, height, and the size and location of the VSD. The data were used to differentiate between two groups (patients with a family history versus patients without a family history). Results: 77% of patients had no family history of VSD, while 23% had a family history. Body mass index (BMI) was lower in patients without a family history compared to those with a family history (17.75 ± 7.4 vs. 21.59 ± 11.15). Patients without a family history underwent surgery at a younger age than those with a family history (7.13 ± 8.32 vs. 8.52 ± 11.14). Subaortic and muscular ventricular septal defects were more common in patients without a family history, while subpulmonary and surgical ventricular septal defects were more common in patients with a family history of ventricular septal defects. The results also showed that the group of patients without a family history of congenital heart disease had a higher percentage of small ventricular septal defects (27.27%) compared to the group of patients with a positive family history (30.43%). Furthermore, a higher incidence of large ventricular septal defects was observed in patients with a family history of the disease, although most p-values were not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.05). In conclusion, based on these results, patients with a family history of ventricular septal defects may experience fewer symptoms, while patients without such a history may exhibit a more severe clinical course and require earlier surgical intervention, indicating no statistically significant differences in the outcomes obtained.</p> https://journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/Health-Nexus/article/download/6003/11632