Global inequality impacts children with congenital heart disease, says World Heart Federation report
via The Namibian6 min read
A new report from the World Heart Federation highlights significant global disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease CHD, with low- and middle-income countries bearing the greatest burden. CHD, one of the most common birth defects, affected approximately 2.3 million children born in 2023, and an estimated 16 million people globally are living with the condition. While advances have improved survival rates, access to specialized care remains unequal, leading to age-standardized mortality rates four times higher in low-income regions compared to high-income regions. Many African, Asian, and Latin American countries lack institutions capable of infant and newborn heart surgery. The report shares the experience of Martha Shiimi, a Namibian woman born with a complex heart defect who had to travel to South Africa for surgery. Shiimi, now 33, continues to face challenges, including long travel for appointments and self-funding treatment abroad. She now leads a patient support group in Namibia. The report also addresses the emotional and psychological toll on CHD patients and caregivers, with 30% to 50% of affected children experiencing neurodevelopmental or mental health conditions. Cultural misconceptions and stigma in many low- and middle-income countries exacerbate these challenges, sometimes leading families to hide the condition and avoid follow-up care. Despite a 32.7% global decline in infant mortality associated with CHD since 1990, mortality rat
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Namibian.
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