Prevalence of Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease in Japan

  • Yumi Shiina, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan
  • Tomohiko Toyoda, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan
  • Yasutaka Kawasoe, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan
  • Shigeru Tateno, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan
  • Takeaki Shirai, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan
  • Yuko Wakisaka, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan
  • Kozo Matsuo, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan
  • Koichiro Niwa, Chiba Cardiovascular Center Department of Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pediatrics, Japan

    • Background: Today most patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) can survive into adulthood. But data regarding the number of adults with CHD in Japan are scarce. Our study aims to define the number of adults with CHD.
    Material and Methods: The expected numbers of infants with major CHDs since 1947 were calculated from birth and mortality rates. We estimated the numbers of CHD survivors from data on natural history and long-term mortality rate. The number of death from 1968 to 1997 was analyzed using individual death certificates held by Japanese Government.
    Results: In 1967, 140,495 patients with CHD including 50,704 adults were assumed to be alive. From 1968 to 1997, 548,360 patients with CHD were born and 82,919 died. Except for the patients with spontaneous closure of VSD, 523,682 patients were estimated to be alive in 1997 with 217,084 children (42%) and 306,598 adults (58%). In 2007, 442,773 adults are alive. From 1997 to 2007, about 13,000 adults/year have been increasing.
    Conclusions: The prevalence in adults with CHD has been explosively increasing from 1967 to 2007. Total 442,773 adults with CHD are alive in 2007 with annual increase of 13,000. These data are useful for further establishment of the special facilities and resources for adult CHD patients not only in Japan but also in other Asian countries.