Congenital Heart Disease refers to heart defects that you are 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 incidence of this disease in Singapore is on the rise and the approximate numbers of adults living with Congenital Heart Disease is 12,000 adults. With around 37,000−40,000 newborns born per year, it is estimated that 300−320 adult cases will be added annually. There are numerous types of Congenital Heart Disease such as:
- Atrial Septal Defect (hole in the wall separating the two upper, right and left, atriums of the heart)
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Fallot's Tetralogy
- Hole in the heart
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus
- Pulmonary Atresia
- Pulmonary/Aortic Stenosis
- Transposition of the great vessels
- Ventricular Septal Defect (hole in the wall separating the right and left ventricles)