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CHD Facts

The term ‘Congenital Heart Defect’ (CHD) refers to an abnormality of the heart which is present at birth.

Some children acquire heart conditions during childhood'
 eg cardiomyopathy, Kawasaki disease.

Heart defects are present in 1 in 100 babies at birth. This makes CHDs the most common birth defect in Australia.

More than 2000 babies are born with a heart disorder in Australia each year.

The severity of defects in heart children can range from a hole in the heart to a highly complex combination of conditions.

Up to 20% of heart defects are gene-linked abnormalities, but for the remaining 80% the cause is largely unknown.

More than half of these conditions need treatment through medication or surgery; some cannot be repaired.

Heart disease is the most common reason for admission of Australian children to intensive care units with more than 1300 being admitted each year.

Heart disease in children is the leading cause of child death in Australia, accounting for more than 30% of all deaths.

The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne performs 650 heart surgeries, 5,000 echocardiograms and 500 cardiac catheters  every year.