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 CHD Awareness Week

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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.

How it Began Volunteer Proclamations Participants Calendar Media Kit

Media Kit

Congenital Heart Defect Fact Sheet
  • 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.
  • 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.*
  • CHD is the most frequently occurring birth defect, and is the leading cause of birth-defect related deaths.
  • 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".
  • Many cases of sudden cardiac death in young athletes are caused by undiagnosed CHDs and Childhood Onset Heart Disease.
  • 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.***
  • 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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