Congenital Heart Defect
Awareness Week
February 7-14, 2008
An international coalition of families, individuals, non-profit
organizations, support groups, and health professionals participate in a
campaign to increase public awareness of Congenital Heart Defects and
Childhood Heart Disease.
Media Kit
Congenital Heart Defect Fact Sheet
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Sometimes
during early pregnancy, a baby's heart fails to form properly,
resulting in structural abnormalities known as Congenital Heart
Defects. Although some defects are genetic, in many cases the
cause is unknown.
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It
is estimated that 40,000 babies with Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)
are born in the United States each year. More than 1 million
American children and adults with Congenital Heart Defects and
Childhood Onset Heart Disease are alive today.*
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CHD
is the most frequently occurring birth defect, and is the leading
cause of birth-defect related deaths.
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Although
some babies will be diagnosed at birth, sometimes the diagnosis is
not made until days, weeks, months, or even years after. In
some cases, CHDs are not detected until adolescence or
adulthood.
-
Some
CHDs may not require treatment other than periodic visits to a
Pediatric Cardiologist. Others can be treated with medications or
repaired with surgery and/or procedures. Complex defects may
require several surgeries and are never really "cured".
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Many
cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes are caused by
undiagnosed CHDs and Childhood Onset Heart Disease.
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It is estimated that more adults than children are living with
congenital heart disease, and this population is expected to
grow by 5% each year. Yet, many adults with CHD are not
receiving adequate ongoing care from trained
specialists.***
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The
Congenital Heart Information Network (http://tchin.org) is the only
organization of international scope dedicated to meeting the needs
of families and individuals affected by CHD.
* American Heart Association: Statistical Update 2001
** American College of Cardiology, 32nd Bethesda Conference: Care of the Adult
With Congenital Heart Disease
***Report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Working
Group on Research in Adult Congenital Heart Disease, 2006
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