Congenital heart disease refers to heart defects that a person is born with. The severity of the disease ranges from mild defects to severe and life-threatening conditions. In Singapore, according to the birth defect registry, from 1994 − 2000, congenital heart disease was a factor in 0.81% of total live births.
The rate of this disease in Singapore is on the rise and there are about 12,000 adults living with congenital heart disease. With around 37,000 − 40,000 babies born each year, it is estimated that 300 − 320 adult cases will be added each year. There are many types of congenital heart diseases including:
- Atrial septal defect (hole in the wall separating the 2 upper, right and left, atriums of the heart)
- Coarctation of the aorta (narrowing of the aorta)
- Fallot's tetralogy
- Hole in the heart
- Mitral valve prolapse
- Patent ductus arteriosus (opening between 2 major vessels)
- Pulmonary atresia (pulmonary valve does not open)
- Pulmonary / aortic stenosis (narrowed)
- Transposition of the great vessels (great vessels are reversed)
- Ventricular septal defect (hole in the wall separating the right and left ventricles)