The Problem We Can't Change
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, affecting approximately 1 in every 100 babies born. Yet despite decades of medical progress, it remains one of the greatest unmet challenges in medicine.
CHD isn’t a single disease. It’s a collection of structural abnormalities that develop before birth, affecting the heart’s chambers, valves, or major blood vessels. These defects can limit blood flow, reduce heart function, and require lifelong medical care.
For many children, surgery begins within the first days or months of life. These procedures can improve circulation and help patients survive, but they do not repair the underlying structural problem.
That distinction is important.
Modern medicine has transformed care for diseases like cancer and diabetes through targeted medications. But congenital heart disease is different. There is no medication capable of rebuilding a malformed heart. Today’s therapies largely focus on managing symptoms, supporting circulation, and extending quality of life.
Fortunately, advances in pediatric cardiac care mean many children born with CHD are now living well into adulthood. Today, adults with congenital heart disease outnumber children with the condition. While this is a remarkable achievement, it also means millions of people continue to live with repaired—but not cured—hearts.
At HeartWorks, we believe patients deserve more than lifelong management. They deserve therapies designed to restore heart function and create new possibilities for the future.
Understanding the problem is the first step toward solving it.
This article is Part 1 of our HeartWorks 101 educational series. Continue the journey by learning why HeartWorks was created and why congenital heart disease required an entirely new model for innovation.
