Epidemiology
Congenital heart defects are relatively common overall. During the early 1980s, an epidemiologic study designed to estimate the prevalence of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the northeastern US showed the prevalence rate of CHD to be 3.7 per 1000 live births. There was a slight, but not statistically significant, male predominance and no ethnic difference.[2]
While it has been suggested that the incidence of CHD may be increasing over time, one meta-analysis of the literature suggests that this is largely due to an increasing ability to detect very minor cardiac lesions (e.g., trivial ventricular septal defects that will not need intervention).[3] This report suggests that the overall incidence of severe forms of CHD has been stable over time at approximately 2.5/1000 to 3/1000 with moderate forms representing another 3/1000 live births. Of the severe forms of CHD, TOF is the most common cyanotic defect. It represents approximately 4% to 9% of all CHD and 30% of all cyanotic lesions.[2][4] Globally, TOF is estimated to occur in 3 cases per 10,000 live births.[4] In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that annually, 1 in 2518 babies are born with TOF.[5]
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer