At a glance
- Congenital heart defects are present at birth and can affect the structure of a person’s heart and the way it works.
- Heart defects are common, costly, and critical conditions that affect people throughout their lives.
Heart defects are common
Heart defects are the most common type of birth defect. In the United States, about 40,000 babies are born with a heart defect each year.
Heart defects can be diagnosed during pregnancy or after birth
Some heart defects can be found during pregnancy by looking at ultrasound pictures of the heart of the developing baby. Other heart defects aren’t detected until birth through newborn screening, or later in life, during childhood or adulthood. Screening newborns for heart defects enables them to be treated early and may prevent other health problems or early death.
Heart defects are costly
In the United States, hospital costs can exceed $9.8 billion a year to care for people living with heart defects. Families of children with heart problems who have special healthcare needs may experience high out-of-pocket medical expenses, impacts on employment, and other financial problems. Although costs involved in living with a heart defect are often unpredictable, planning for these expenses as early as possible can help your family stay financially healthy. Ask your healthcare provider for information about any financial assistance programs in your state.
People with heart defects are living longer
As medical care and treatment have advanced, people with heart defects are living longer and healthier lives. Overall, there are slightly more adults living with heart defects than children. As survival rates have increased, researchers are continuing to look at health issues and needs across the lifespan to help ensure people born with heart defects are getting needed care at every stage of life.
People with heart defects need lifelong specialty care for their hearts
Even with improved treatments, many people with a heart defect are not cured, even if their heart defect has been repaired. People with a heart defect can develop other health problems over time, depending on their specific heart defect, the number of heart defects they have, and the severity of their heart defect. Ongoing appropriate medical care for their heart defect will help children and adults live as healthy a life as possible.
