The projected population of individuals born in 1990 or later surviving with congenital heart disease is estimated to reach nearly 760,000 by 2020, including 200,000 with severe disease.
Section on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young T he number of adults who have survived with congenital heart disease is increasing rapidly. Although prevalence studies have not been performed, estimates of expected numbers of people reaching adulthood with congenital heart disease (CHD) can now be made because birth prevalence has been studied and mortality rates have begun to stabilize. Birth prevalence for all forms of congenital heart disease detected in the first year of life is estimated at 8.1 per thousand live births on the basis of data from the Centers for Disease Control 1 ; estimates for disease of sufficient severity to result in a catheterization, surgery, or death in the first year of life are 2.3 per thousand, using population-based data derived from the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium. Estimates of numbers of individuals reaching adulthood born in 1990 with congenital heart disease of sufficient severity to be diagnosed or treated during the first year of life are shown in the Figure . Disregarding all patients born before 1990 and those not diagnosed in the first year and assuming stable mortality in early adulthood, by 2020, nearly 760 000 individuals will have CHD, with 200 000 in the more severe subgroup.
Webb et al. (Tue,) conducted a review in Congenital heart disease. The projected population of individuals born in 1990 or later surviving with congenital heart disease is estimated to reach nearly 760,000 by 2020, including 200,000 with severe disease.