Event Series:
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
February 7, 2029 - February 14, 2029
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is observed each year from February 7–14. The goal of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is to promote awareness and education about Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs). The awareness color for congenital heart defects is red and blue. Wear a red and blue enamel awareness ribbon pin to highlight the need for awareness of congenital heart defects.
CHDs are the most common type of heart defects. As of February 2023, the American Heart Association estimated that more than 2.4 million people in the United States were living with congenital heart defects (CHDs), with adults outnumbering children. CHDs are the most common birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of births, or about 40,000 infants, each year. However, medical advances, such as cardiac interventions and congenital heart surgery, have improved the prognosis for people with CHDs. More than 97% of children with CHDs now reach adulthood.
State Programs
In addition, the CDC works to understand Congenital Heart Defects through initiatives that include working with state programs to improve newborn screening for critical CHDs. They also work to fund state programs to track birth defects, including CHDs. And they launch projects focused on tracking children, adolescents, and adults with CHDs to make improvements in medical treatments and quality of life. In addition, the CDC provides funding for several research centers across the nation to help understand the causes of birth defects, including CHDs.
The prevalence of some heart defects, especially mild types, are increasing. The prevalence of other types has remained stable. The most common type of heart defect is a ventricular septal defect. About 1 in 4 babies with a heart defect have a critical heart defect. Infants with critical heart defects generally need surgery or other procedures in their first year of life. The prevalence of all types of CHDs, including critical heart defects, varies by state and by type of defect.
CDC-funded research recently reported associations for certain CHDs in infants of mothers who were exposed to pesticides at work and a reduction in CHD risk for mothers with better diet quality. CDC research also found that children with CHDs receive special education more often than do children who do not have birth defects. CDC’s Congenital Heart Defects website has additional information about CHDs (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/heartdefects).
What are Congenital Heart Defects?
Congenital Heart Defect is a catch-all phrase for a variety of heart abnormalities that develop before birth. CHDs can affect the heart’s structure and function, disrupting the normal flow of blood through the heart. CHDs are present at birth, but individuals born with CHD live with these conditions throughout their lives.
Why Do We Observe Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week?
CHD Awareness Week honors children and adults born with a heart defect, their families, and the scientists and doctors who are continually working to improve diagnosis and treatment. It’s also a time to educate people about CHD and the need for more research. By participating in CHD Awareness Week, you can help bring awareness to CHD as well as help raise money for research and improving treatment.
Facts about Congenital Heart Defects (CHD)
CHD is surprisingly common.
According to Children’s Health, the most common types of CHD are:
- Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV)
- Ventricular septal defects (VSD)
- Atrial septal defects (ASD)
Some heart defects don’t need treatment or can be treated easily. Others may require surgery or other treatment. About 1 in 4 babies born with CHD has a critical Congenital Heart Defect (also known as critical congenital heart disease, or CCHD). Babies with CCHD will need surgery or treatment within their first year of life. Without treatment, critical CHDs can be fatal.
There is good news, though. Since 1999, death rates from CHD in the U.S. have decreased by nearly 40% thanks to improved screening and treatment. All 50 states now require pulse oximetry testing for newborns, which can help identify critical CHDs so these babies can receive prompt treatment. Medical advancements mean that children born with CHDs are now living longer and healthier lives.
(Image: Photo by Jean-Louis Paulin on Unsplash)
