What Is A Congenital Heart Defect And Who Does It Affect?
A congenital heart defect is a structural abnormality of the heart that is present at birth and affects the normal flow of blood through the heart and to the rest of the body. The term is often used interchangeably with congenital heart disease (CHD), which is a broader term referring to conditions associated with the defect.
A congenital heart defect is the most common type of birth defect, affecting an estimated 1% of live births in the US or 40,000 infants each year. It is the leading cause of newborn mortality, accounting for 3% of deaths and 46% of deaths from all congenital malformations.1
Patients with CHD have an increased risk of various morbidities throughout their lives and reduced long‐term survival. However, advances in diagnostics and treatment have led to significant improvements in survival and outcomes in recent decades. In the US, an estimated 2-3 million individuals are living with CHDs.
CHD can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the degree of structure and function affected. Some defects are simple and require no treatment, while others are serious and require surgery soon after birth.
Defects are classified as:
- Cyanotic defects shunt blood from the right side to the left side of the heart, resulting in poorly oxygenated blood being pumped to the body and potentially causing hypoxia. Common types include tetralogy of fallot (TOF), transposition of the great arteries (TGA), and tricuspid atresia.
- Acyanotic defects cause blood to be shunted from the left side of the heart back to the right side, resulting in highly oxygenated blood and increased fluid volume, which can then lead to pulmonary congestion. Common types include patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defects, and ventricular septal defects.
