Can PDA go undiagnosed?

Can a PDA Go Undiagnosed?

Yes, a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) can go undiagnosed—sometimes for years. While most cases are caught early in infancy or childhood, a small number of people live with a silent PDA well into adulthood without ever knowing it.

The ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that normally closes shortly after birth. When it remains open, it’s called a PDA. In many cases, especially with larger defects, symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, or frequent respiratory infections prompt early evaluation and diagnosis. But when the PDA is small, it may not cause noticeable symptoms, allowing it to slip under the radar.

Some silent PDAs are only discovered incidentally, often during a routine physical exam when a doctor hears a characteristic heart murmur—or shows up on an imaging test done for another reason. An echocardiogram can confirm the diagnosis. Without such a clue, many people might never know they have one.

Because small, isolated PDAs often don’t cause immediate health problems, they can remain undetected unless a person seeks medical attention for an unrelated issue. This makes it difficult to determine exactly how common undiagnosed PDAs really are. What’s clear is that absence of symptoms doesn’t always mean absence of risk. Over time, even a small PDA can lead to complications like heart enlargement or increased pressure in the lungs, especially if left untreated.

While most PDAs are identified early, the possibility of a delayed diagnosis reminds us that some heart conditions don’t announce themselves loudly. Regular check-ups, especially with a good medical history and thorough physical exam, are key—even when you feel perfectly fine.