Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are problems present at birth that affect the structure and function of the heart. They can affect how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. Common examples include holes in different areas of the heart and narrow or leaky valves.
Congenital Heart Defects are Common
- CHDs are the most common birth defects, occurring in nearly 1 in 100 births.
- This means that nearly 40,000 babies born with a heart defect each year.
Congenital Heart Defects are Critical
- CHDs are the most common cause of birth defect related infant death.
- During the period 1999–2006, there were 41,494 deaths related to congenital heart defects in the United States.
Congenital Heart Defects are Costly
- Congenital heart defects result in life-long specialized health care utilization.
- In 2009, estimates indicate that hospital costs for stays related to CHD in children were nearly $1.5 billion. In the same year, with significantly fewer hospital stays, hospital costs for adults treated primarily for CHD were at least $280 million.
- Compared to the general population, adults with CHD have 3 – 4 times higher rates of Emergency Room visits, hospitalizations, and Intensive Care Unit stays.
Yet, what we know remains limited
- Currently, there is no surveillance information for any age beyond infancy.
- Information collected by each state varies significantly.
- Despite large pools of existing data, the ability to leverage this information is difficult to compare.
- Cost data remains scarce.