Tetralogy of Fallot is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Tetralogy of Fallot, or a subtype of Tetralogy of Fallot, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Ophanet, who are a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when if affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Tetralogy of Fallot as a "rare disease". More information about Tetralogy of Fallot is available from Orphanet
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The cause of tetralogy of Fallot is unknown, but it results from embryologic hypoplasia of the outflow tract of the right ventricle. Multiple factors, such as Down syndrome, have been associated with its presence. Prenatal risk factors include maternal rubella or other viral illnesses, poor prenatal nutrition, maternal alcoholism, mother older than age 40, and diabetes.
Tetralogy of Fallot occurs in approximately 5 of every 10,000 infants and accounts for about 10% of all congenital heart diseases. It occurs equally in boys and girls. Before surgical advances made correction possible, about one-third of these children died in infancy.
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
3.5–8% of all congenital heart disease
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
The term 'prevalence' of Tetralogy of Fallot usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Tetralogy of Fallot at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Tetralogy of Fallot refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Tetralogy of Fallot diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.
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