Congenital heart disease (CHD) is an umbrella term for structural abnormalities of the heart or major blood vessels that are present from birth. The defects form during fetal development and range from simple conditions that require no treatment to complex abnormalities that need surgery in infancy and lifelong specialist follow-up. CHD is the most common type of birth defect, affecting around 1 in 100 babies born in the UK.
Common types of congenital heart defect include holes in the heart (atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect), narrowed valves or vessels, and more complex conditions such as tetralogy of Fallot or transposition of the great arteries. Some defects close on their own; others require catheter-based procedures or open-heart surgery.
Congenital heart disease is distinct from acquired heart disease, which develops after birth as a result of infection, lifestyle factors, or ageing. However, some adults with repaired or palliated CHD continue to have an elevated risk of arrhythmia, including ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, and may require an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
People born with certain congenital heart conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy or long QT syndrome, face an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest, particularly during exercise. Adults living with CHD are cared for by specialist adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) services and should have a clear emergency plan in place.
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