The Prevalence and Reality of Congenital Heart Defects

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) represent structural abnormalities of the heart and major intrathoracic vessels present at birth that affect cardiac function or ultimately may require intervention (such as surgery or catheterisation) (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE], 2014). For both the lay reader and the medical student, understanding CHDs is vital: they are among the most common birth defects, with both immediate and long-term implications for individuals and society. In this article we will explore both the prevalence of CHDs globally and regionally, and the lived “reality” of CHDs: their types, the pathways to diagnosis, treatment and outcomes, and the broader psychosocial and health-system impacts. We will close with a look at challenges and the future of care for patients with CHD.