Financial Stressors of Cardiovascular Disease

Merilyn Monterroza, 7/29/24

What is Congenital Heart disease?

Congenital heart disease, also known as congenital heart defect (CHD), is the most common type of birth defect in the US. CHD is a cardiovascular disease that affects the structure of the heart or blood vessels at birth. A few types of congenital heart defects are Atrial Septal Defect, Patent Ductus Arteriosus, and Ventricular Septal Defect. These types of heart defects cause different issues to the heart. These issues that prevent blood from flowing properly involve a hole in the heart’s wall and problems with the heart valves. Some children are born with less severe defects while some are born with multiple types of congenital heart defects that can be life-threatening. 

Symptoms

• Blue/gray lips or skin, also known as cyanosis

• Fast breathing

• Rapid heartbeat

• Swelling in the legs, stomach, and near the eyes

• Shortness of breath 

Complications

Children with less severe heart defects are able to live normal lives while some with more complex defects experience more obstacles. CHD can cause multiple problems including:

1. Developmental problems: Children with more serious defects undergo delays in their development as they may take longer to begin walking or speaking. Congenital heart disease can also cause children to have learning disabilities affecting brain development. Learning disabilities involve: low attention span, difficulty understanding others, and impaired memory. 

2. Pulmonary hypertension: Certain types of congenital heart defects can lead to higher blood pressure than normal which is known as pulmonary hypertension. 

Symptoms include: shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, difficulty breathing, and rapid heartbeat.

3. Congestive heart failure: This is where the heart is unable to pump the correct amount of blood around an individual's body. 

Symptoms include: tiredness, weakness, difficulty breathing when moving around or resting. 

Treatment for CHD

Treatments for congenital heart disease include diuretics, surgical procedures, cardiac catheterizations, and heart transplants. 

Some children who are born with a CHD require multiple procedures and surgeries throughout their life. They need regular checkups and follow up care by a heart doctor, known as a cardiologist to check for any problems they may have regarding the heart. 

Financial Stressors

Caring for children with CHD requires parents to give everyday medical care which creates a financial burden and emotional stress. While there are treatments for congenital heart disease, many families and individuals are not able to afford it as it requires special care. Some patients may only need to see a cardiologist, but certain patients with more severe conditions require substantial financial resources. These resources include the cost associated with surgery, special treatments, lifelong medication, and hospitalization which can be very expensive to pay. 

Insurance Coverage 

Patients who have severe congenital heart disease are often faced with financial challenges in affording medications and procedures. According to the Journal of Pediatrics, the average medical cost for every child from birth to age 10 is about $136,682. Insurance coverage plays a significant role in helping to lower some of the costs, but even with this help, there are still expenses that insurance does not cover. Expenses include deductibles, co-payments,  non-covered services, out of network charges, and coinsurance. 

Financial hardship was found to be much stronger for patients who had private insurance compared to those with Medicaid insurance. Many treatments are inaccessible to many patients due to not having the right financial resources and correct health insurance that they may need for CHD. Having the right insurance can help cover a range of needed medical services, allow easier access to specialists, and reduce financial burden that congenital heart disease may bring. 

To conclude, congenital heart disease, although not curable, can be managed in different ways through treatments such as medications and surgeries. It’s important to understand how to help manage this disease in order to improve the quality of life for children and adults. With the proper medical care and the right insurance, families and patients can reduce complications and navigate through the challenges of congenital heart disease. 

Sources 

American Heart Association: The Impact of Congenital Heart Defects ://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/congenital-heart-defects/the-impact-of-congenital-heart-defects

Children's Heart Foundation: About CHDs

https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org/about-chds/chd-facts.html

Cleveland Clinic: Financial Hardship https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/financial-hardship-in-families-of-children-with-congenital-heart-disease

Mayo Clinic: Congenital heart defects in children

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/congenital-heart-defects-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20350074

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute: What are Congenital Heart Defects? https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/congenital-heart-defects

National Honor Society: Complications

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/congenital-heart-disease/complications/