Cardiovascular Diseases in Public Health: Chromosomal Abnormalities in Congenital Heart Disease Causing Sudden Cardiac Death in Children

Chromosomal abnormalities (CAs) are changes in the number or structure of chromosomes, manifested as alterations in the total number of chromosomes or as structural abnormalities involving the loss, duplication, or rearrangement of chromosomal segments. CAs can be inherited or can occur spontaneously, leading to congenital malformations and genetic diseases. CAs associated with cardiovascular diseases cause structural or functional alterations of the heart, affecting the cardiac chambers, valves, coronary arteries, aorta, and cardiac conduction, thus increasing the likelihood of arrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and sudden cardiac death (SCD). An early diagnosis and the adequate management of chromosomal abnormalities associated with cardiovascular diseases are essential to prevent SCD, which is a serious public health problem today. In our review, we analyzed the structural and functional CAs responsible for congenital heart disease (CHD) that increase the risk of SCD and analyzed the prevention strategies to be implemented to reduce SCD.