Climate change may increase congenital heart defects
Journal of the American Heart Association Report
January 30, 2019

Study Highlights:

• The rise in temperatures stemming from climate change may increase the number of U.S. infants born with congenital heart defects between 2025 and 2035.
• The greatest percentage increases in the number of congenital heart defects are predicted in the Midwest, followed by the Northeast and the South.
• Pregnant women need to be aware of the dangers of extreme heat exposure, especially during early pregnancy.

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Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT / 5 a.m. ET Wednesday, January 30, 2019

DALLAS, January 30, 2019 — Rising temperatures stemming from global climate change may increase the number of infants born with congenital heart defects (CHD) in the United States over the next two decades and may result in as many as 7,000 additional cases over an 11 year-period in eight representative states (Arkansas, Texas, California, Iowa, North Caroline, Georgia, New York and Utah), according to new research in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the Open Access Journal of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

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