Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) in Canada
| 12 |
Canadians are born each day with a congenital heart defect |
| 180,000 |
The estimated number of Canadian adults and children with CHD |
| 130,000 | The estimated number of Canadian adults living with CHD with no program of care equivalent to that provided for children with CHD or people with acquired heart disease |
| 15 | The number of regional facilities in Canada |
| 5 | Number of regional facilities that have been identified as "Regional Center of Excellence" |
| 8 | The number of cardiologists in Canada who have specifically trained in the field of adult congenital heart defects. |
- CHD is the most common birth defect, affecting 1 in 70 Canadian newborns
- Historically, the focus of CHD care was confined to newborns and children whose life expectancy was limited to weeks, months, and in a few cases, several years
- The amazing progress over the past 50 years in diagnosis, surgery and other interventions, have vastly improved survival
- Presently, an estimated 130,000 adults living with CHD in Canada with no program of care equivalent to that provided for children with CHD or people with "lifestyle acquired" heart disease
- We have a wide variety of heart defects, each type requiring different levels of intervention and monitoring
- Adult patients have far fewer resources than children, and they must wait as much as 33 times longer for surgical intervention than patients with acquired heart disease
- At least half of adult patients face the prospect of complications, reoperation, and premature/sudden death
- The numbers are growing - now more than 50% of CHD patients are adults
These numbers do not take into account our families and friends who are also deeply affected by CHD. Through CCHA's efforts to increase awareness and understanding, we hope to secure an equal standard of care for all patients with CHD.
The focus must now turn from survival to improving the health and quality of life for people with heart defects. Research, education, and ongoing support from the government, hospital administrators, healthcare community, Heart & Stroke Foundation, and others who care about people with heart defects, will go a long way to helping us live long and healthy lives.
Please help us by becoming a member of CCHA or making a donation (or both!) Numbers count when you're trying to be heard.
