Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. Access tools and resources to support coordinated care between primary care, cardiology and other members of the care team.
Congenital Heart Defects Overview
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are problems with the heart’s structure that are present at birth. Common examples include holes in the inside walls of the heart and narrowed or leaky valves. In more severe forms of CHDs, blood vessels or heart chambers may be missing, poorly formed and/or in the wrong place. As medical care and treatment have advanced, people living with congenital heart disease are living longer and healthier lives. Most children will grow up and live well into their adult and even senior years. Children with congenital heart disease will require lifelong specialized care to address nutrition, physical activity, neurodevelopment and both cardiac and non-cardiac risk factors.
Policy and Clinical Guidance
People living with congenital heart disease (CHD) have complex health care needs that often must be coordinated by the primary care provided and co-managed with cardiology. View policy, clinical guidance and other key articles.
American Academy of Pediatrics Policy
Visit AAP Policy Collections to access current policy statements, clinical and technical reports with respect to Cardiology.
American Heart Association
Search Guidelines and Statements for recently published scientific statements from the American Heart Association.
CDC: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
Access articles about Congenital Heart Defects including key findings, feature articles and articles of interest.
About Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect. There are many types of heart defects, with different degrees of severity based on size, location and other associated defects.
Professional Resources
CHD is a lifelong condition that requires specialized care. View resources related to transition, care coordination and telehealth.
Patient and Family Resources
Recognizing and getting help for the emotional needs of friends and family to those living with a CHD are important, too. Read personal stories from parents, siblings, physicians and children related to CHD support.
Congenital Health Public Health Consortium
The CHPHC is an unincorporated, all volunteer organization that is comprised of multiple professional associations, research groups, patient/parent advocacy groups and federal liaisons with a mission to prevent congenital heart defects and improve outcomes for affected children and adults.
The contents of this page were developed by the Congenital Health Public Health Consortium (CHPHC). The CHPHC is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The outputs of the CHPHC are solely the responsibility of the CHPHC and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by the member organizations of the CHPHC, CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Last Updated
04/29/2022
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics