Congenital Heart Disease: Global Burden and Challenges to Eliminate Health Disparities

Abstract

Congenital heart disease ranks first among mortality causes by birth defects in children under 5-years-old. In 2016, The World Health Organization informed that 9,274,915 children died due to heart anomalies. Congenital heart defects can have genetic causes, but can also result after exposure to several risk factors (i.e. environmental factors, maternal health and age). Prevention and screening are key measures for lowering mortality rate among infants with heart defects.