What percentage of babies have congenital heart disease?

Congenital heart disease is a broad term referring to any problem with the heart's structure or function that is present at birth. It's estimated that around 8 in every 1000 newborns have some form of congenital heart disease, making it the most common type of major birth defect.

In terms of specific conditions, ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common form and affects about 40-50% of children born with CHD. Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is also very common, occurring in approximately 25-30%. Atrial septal defects (ASDs), coarctation of the aorta (CoA), and Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) are all less commonly seen but still account for over 10?ch.

The mortality rate for those affected by CHD varies significantly based on age and severity; however, advances in medical technology have drastically improved survival rates over recent years and many people can now live long lives despite having CHD. For example, ninety percent or more survive infancy if they have mild forms such as VSD or PDA and receive timely diagnosis/treatment. However this drops to only 60-70% if they have more complex congenital diseases such as TOF or CoA before treatment becomes available.

It’s worth noting too that risk factors exist which can increase chances of babies being born with CHD – these include diabetes during pregnancy, maternal smoking/alcohol consumption during pregnancy, low intake levels of folic acid during pre-conception period etc - so it’s always important to be aware and take precautions accordingly where possible!