Racial Differences by Gestational Age in Neonatal Deaths Attributable to Congenital Heart Defects - United States, 2003-2006

Congenital heart defects are diagnosed in approximately 1% of births in the United States and account for the largest proportion of infant mortality attributable to birth defects. Congenital heart defects are multifactorial in origin and have several recognized genetic causes. To assess neonatal mortality attributable to congenital heart defects by maternal race and gestational age, CDC analyzed linked U.S. birth and infant death data for 2003-2006. Petrini et al summarizes the results of the analysis, which found that 4.2% of all neonatal deaths and 24.5% of neonatal deaths attributable to birth defects had a congenital heart defect noted as the underlying cause.