World heart day

Congenital heart defect awareness week is February 7-14. In that week (and every week), 705 babies will be born in the United States with a congenital heart defect (CHD).

A CHD is a heart problem that’s present at birth. It happens to 1 out of every 100 newborns. That’s about 40,000 babies every year, just in the United States. CHD is the most common birth defect.

Almost all of us know someone affected by CHD.

But not everyone knows the facts.

Congenital heart defect awareness week 2025

  
This awareness week, let’s start with information.

What Everyone Should Know About CHD

Here are the 5 facts that everyone should know about congenital heart defects, and how they affect people.

1.

CHD Is Lifelong

When you say congenital heart defect, most people think of a newborn. But as those babies grow into children and adults, they still need care for their CHD. CHDs are lifelong conditions that need ongoing monitoring and treatment.

That’s why UVA Health offers a CHD clinic for adults. We treat patients of all ages with CHD.

2. It Can Happen to Anyone

Some CHDs run i

when is chd awareness day

when is congenital heart defect awareness day observed