The New York State Department of Health recognizes Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, February 7 – 14, 2025.
Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are the most common birth defects, occurring in about 1 in 110 births. Due to medical advances, there are now more people with a CHD reaching adulthood than ever before.
“While the exact causes of congenital heart defects are unknown, resources and information are still available,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “Individuals with congenital heart defects are living longer than ever before as a direct result of research and awareness.”
About Congenital Heart Defects
Nearly 40,000 infants are born with CHDs each year in the United States. CHDs affect the structure and function of the heart, including 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.
Prevention Activities
CHDs are the most common birth defects that cause infant death. While most causes of CHDs are unknown, there may be prevention activities that prospective parents can do to help increase the chance of having a baby with a healthy heart:
- Prevention Prior to & During Pregnancy
- Get Healthy Before You Are Pregnant
- Get Prenatal Care
- Get Enough Folic Acid
A baby’s risk of having a CHD is 3 times higher if their mother, father, or sibling has a CHD. People with CHDs should speak to their health care providers about preconception counseling to find out how to have the safest possible pregnancy.
Living with Congenital heart Defects
Of the 2.4 million people in the U.S. living with a CHD, more than half are adults, and, due to improved life expectancy, that number is expected to rise 5 percent every year. However, adults with CHDs have 3 – 4 times higher rates of Emergency Room visits, hospitalizations, and Intensive Care Unit stays than the general population. Most individuals with CHDs require specialized care throughout their lives. People with CHDs face a lifelong risk of health problems such as:
- Issues with growth and eating
- Developmental delays
- Difficulty with exercise
- Heart rhythm problems
- Heart failure
- Sudden cardiac arrest or stroke
To mitigate adverse outcomes in adulthood, it is important for adolescents with CHDs to work with their care teams to achieve a successful transition from pediatric to adult cardiology care.
Find Adult CHD Clinics here.
For additional information and resources, visit the Department of Health’s Congenital Heart Defects webpage.
For information about newborn screening for CHDs, visit the Department’s Critical Congenital Heart Disease Screening webpage.
For the Birth Defects Registry, visit the Department’s Birth Defects webpage.