Other Possible Health Issues for People with Heart Defects

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia is a problem with how the heart beats. The heart can beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. As a result, the heart may not pump enough blood out to the body. Arrhythmia can also increase the risk for blood clots.

People with heart defects may have an arrhythmia. The arrhythmia may be due to their condition or because of past treatments or procedures for their heart defect. Some people can have an arrhythmia even in the absence of any heart defects.

Cardiovascular health issues

Adults with heart defects are more likely than the general population to report cardiovascular issues such as heart failure or stroke.^[1]

It is important that people living with heart defects receive ongoing specialty medical care.

Disability and Developmental Delay

Many people with heart defects live independent lives. Some people with a heart defect have little or no disability. For others, disability might increase or develop over time. By young adulthood, 4 in 10 adults with CHD reported having disabilities.^[2]

People with a heart defect might also have genetic problems or other health conditions that increase the risk for disability.

Developmental disabilities are common among children with heart defects.^[3] Developmental disabilities can involve challenges or delays in learning, thinking, communicating and socializing. Adults with heart defects also reported cognitive disabilities (trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions) more often than other types of disability.^[2]

Mental Health

People with heart defects may be more likely than the general population to experience mental health conditions. These conditions include depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder.^{[4, 5]} Living with a heart defect can involve stressful experiences. For example, people with heart defects may experience several hospitalizations and surgeries to care for their heart. They may also be affected by other health conditions, as described on this page.

Infective endocarditis

Infective endocarditis is an infection in the layers of the heart. If left untreated, it can lead to other problems, such as a blood clot, heart valve damage, or heart failure. Guidelines recommend that individuals with certain heart defects take oral antibiotics before having dental or surgical procedures. People with heart defects should discuss their condition with a doctor to determine if they should take antibiotics before a procedure.

Liver disease

People with single ventricle heart defects can develop liver disease. This may be due to their heart defect or because of past treatments or procedures for their heart defect. People with this type of heart defect should see a healthcare provider regularly to stay as healthy as possible.

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the arteries (blood vessels) that lead from the heart to the lungs. Certain heart defects can cause pulmonary hypertension, which forces the heart and lungs to work harder. If the pulmonary hypertension is not treated, the right side of the heart can become enlarged over time. This can then lead to heart failure.

Other chronic conditions

As adults with heart defects age, they may develop other chronic conditions. These conditions include diabetes, obesity, or atherosclerosis (buildup of cholesterol in the arteries). These diseases might affect adults with a heart defect differently than they affect adults without heart defects.