Definition
Number of children born with transposition of the great arteries per 10,000 live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Numerator
Number of children born with transposition of the great arteries among live births occurring to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Denominator
Count of all live births to women residing in New Jersey in a specified time interval.Why Is This Important?
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a heart condition that is present at birth, and often is called a congenital heart defect. TGA occurs when the two main arteries going out of the heart (the pulmonary artery and the aorta) are switched in position, or "transposed". Transposition causes systemic and pulmonary circulation to occur in parallel rather than in series. This situation causes organs within the body to be deprived of oxygen.
The cause of TGA is unknown, but there are some factors that have been associated with an increased risk of developing TGA. They include: viral illness in the mother during pregnancy; poor maternal nutrition or diabetes during pregnancy; high maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy; pesticide exposure during fetal development; and advanced age of the mother.