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Prevalence of Ventricular Septal Defect

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is one of the most common congenital heart defects. The incidence of VSD in the USA is 2-7% of live births. However, a recent echocardiographic study revealed 5-50 VSDs per 1000 newborns. The majority of these defects closed spontaneously in the first year. Adult have a lower incidence because many of the defects spontaneously closed.

Defects involving the membranous septum account for up to 80% of VSDs. Muscular septum defects account for up to 20% of VSDs.

VSD is associated with a number of chromosomal syndromes including: trisomy 13, trisomy 18, trisomy 21. VSD is slighly more frequent in females (56%) than males (44%).