Can Congenital Heart Disease Be Passed from Parent to Child?

 Congenital heart disease can be inherited, but the overall risk is often lower than expected.

In the general population, around 1 in 100 babies are born with a heart defect. If a parent has CHD, this risk increases to approximately 3% to 5%.

While this represents a higher probability, it still means that most babies are born with healthy hearts.

The level of risk can vary depending on several factors.

If the mother has CHD, the likelihood is slightly higher than if the father is affected. The exact reason is not fully understood but may relate to conditions within the womb during development.

It is also important to distinguish between types of CHD.

• Isolated defects often occur without a clear inheritance pattern.
• Syndromic conditions may carry a higher genetic risk.

In cases linked to genetic syndromes, inheritance patterns can be more predictable, which is why genetic counselling is sometimes recommended.

During pregnancy, specialist testing plays a key role.

Fetal echocardiography provides a detailed assessment of the baby’s heart, usually performed around 18 to 22 weeks.

This allows early detection and helps plan care if needed.

Understanding the balance between risk and likelihood is essential.

While the chance is increased, the outcome in most cases remains positive.