Sex Differences in Congenital Heart Anomalies

A new study has found that boys are more likely to be born with heart defects than girls, and this gap has been getting smaller over time. The researchers analyzed data from 204 countries and found that boys had a higher burden of congenital heart anomalies, which can be life-threatening, in children under five. However, the study also found that countries with better healthcare systems and higher levels of economic development had lower rates of these heart defects. The study's findings suggest that boys are at a disadvantage when it comes to heart health, and that improving healthcare in poorer countries could help reduce the number of children born with these defects.