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Birth Defects - Prevalence of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome per 10,000 Live Births

Summary Indicator Report Data View Options

Prevalence of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome by County, New Mexico, 2015-2019

Why Is This Important?

Birth defects pose a significant public health problem. One in 33 babies is born with a structural birth defect in the United States. Birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality and responsible for considerable morbidity and disability. Among people with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), the underdeveloped left side of the heart is unable to provide enough blood flow to the body. The normal shunts present at birth help to direct blood to the body; when these connections close the oxygen-rich blood supply decreases. Thus, babies with HLHS might look normal at birth, but will develop symptoms of HLHS within a few days. These symptoms might include: poor feeding; problems breathing; pounding heart; weak pulse; and ashen or bluish skin color. Without treatment, babies with HLHS die. Although this defect cannot be corrected, surgeries after birth can create the needed connections, or shunts, to allow the blood to get to the body.

Definition

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a problem with the heart's structure that is present at birth (congenital). It is a group of related defects that, together, mean that the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. The prevalence of HLHS is the number of live-born infants with HLHS per 10,000 live born infants. (Live-born infants are the infants born with any evidence of life). New Mexico live-born infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), 2015-2019.

Data Sources

  • Birth Defects Prevention and Surveillance System (BDPASS), New Mexico Department of Health.
  • Birth Certificate Data, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics (BVRHS), Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health.
    (https://www.nmhealth.org/about/erd/bvrhs/vrp/)

How the Measure is Calculated

Numerator:Number of live-born infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).
Denominator:Number of live-born infants.

How Are We Doing?

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is not common in New Mexico. There are approximately 2 babies born with this condition each year in New Mexico.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

The national prevalence of hypoplastic left heart among births from 2004-2006 is 2.3 per 10,000 births. These data data come from 14 birth defects surveillance programs: Arkansas, Arizona, California [8-county Central Valley], Colorado, Georgia [5-county metropolitan Atlanta], Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Utah. Fore more information, please see: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/features/birthdefects-keyfindings.html Due to variability in the methods used by state birth defects surveillance systems and differences in populations and risk factors, state prevalence estimates may not be directly comparable with national estimates or those of other states.

What Is Being Done?

All birthing facilities in New Mexico are required to check newborns for birth defects, including congenital heart defects (CHDs), such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome.* The screen for CHDs, called pulse oximetry, is painless and measures the baby?s pulse and the level of oxygen in the baby?s blood. Screening performed in the birthing facility before discharge allows immediate referral for follow-up testing. Pulse oximetry alone cannot diagnose a heart defect. *Parents choosing to forego this screening must sign a waiver.

Other Objectives

CDC Environmental Public Health Tracking, Nationally Consistent Data and Measures (EPHT NCDM)

Indicator Data Last Updated On 03/11/2022, Published on 05/03/2022
Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau, Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health, 1190 S. Saint Francis Drive, Suite 1300, Santa Fe, NM 87505, Srikanth Paladugu, Bureau Chief, Srikanth.Paladugu@doh.nm.gov, or Stephanie Moraga-McHaley, Environmental Epidemiologist Supervisor, Stephanie.Moraga-Mc@doh.nm.gov