Prevalence Of Rheumatic Heart Disease Research Articles

The heart of the matter: a re-iteration of the role of the social determinants of health in addressing health inequity in Central Australia.

The persisting life-expectancy 'gap' between First Nations and non-First Nations Australians is fundamentally driven by the social determinants of health. These include income and social protection, access to adequate housing and food security, among others. These factors are particularly prominent in Central Australia. Inadequate housing has led to some of the highest rates of Streptococcus pyogenes infection in the world, which in turn drives an extremely high prevalence of rheumatic heart disease. Food insecurity and inadequate social protection manifesting as energy insecurity result in inadequate nutrition and have resulted in a huge burden of diabetes in Central Australia. These factors, combined with social exclusion, racism and the pervasive effect of colonisation, also drive a high rate of alcohol misuse. Only by prioritising equity in these 'social determinants' and emphasising the importance of First Nations leadership in formulating and implementing solutions will health inequity be addressed.

Assessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of frontline physicians in Egyptian university hospitals regarding pharyngitis and acute rheumatic fever: a cross-sectional study that calls for action

BackgroundAcute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remain major public health issues. Although the primary and secondary prevention of RHD through appropriate management of bacterial pharyngitis and ARF are well-described in the literature, few studies address the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of developing countries. We aimed to evaluate the KAP of the frontline physicians in Egyptian university hospitals regarding pharyngitis and ARF.MethodsWe employed a cross-sectional design between September 1st, 2022, and January 31st, 2023 using a self-administered questionnaire in 21 Egyptian universities. The questionnaire was developed based on previous studies and recent guidelines and included four domains: sociodemographic data, knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding pharyngitis and ARF. We utilized both online (Google Forms) and paper surveys. Frontline physicians, including interns, residents, and assistant lecturers, were conveniently invited to participate. Furthermore, with the help of participating phycisians in recruiting their colleagues, we utilized the snowball method. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27 software.ResultsThe final analysis included 629 participants, of whom 372 (59.1%) were males and 257 (40.9%) had direct contact with ARF patients. Most participants (61.5%) had a fair knowledge level while 69.5% had a fair level of practice regarding ARF and pharyngitis. Higher satisfactory knowledge levels were noted regarding pharyngitis (17.1% vs. 11.3%; p-value: 0.036) and ARF (26.8% vs. 18%; p-value: 0.008) among physicians dealing directly with ARF cases compared to physicians in departments not dealing directly with ARF cases. Physicians in Cairo region universities had significantly higher levels of satisfactory knowledge about ARF compared to Delta and Upper Egypt region universities (p = 0.014). Delta region universities showed significantly lower levels of practice compared to Cairo and Upper Egypt region universities (p = 0.027). The most frequently recognized barriers against health promotion were low socioeconomic status (90.3%) and lack of adequate public education (85.8%).ConclusionsDespite the fair knowledge and practice levels towards bacterial pharyngitis and ARF among participants, many gaps were still identified that might contribute to RHD prevalence. Educational interventions should be implemented by updating the local guidelines in Egypt for diagnosis and management based on the most recent guidelines.

Early Detection of Subclinical Rheumatic Heart Disease Through Echocardiographic Screening: A Study in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Background: Given the urgent need to address the significant morbidity and mortality associated with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) in Indonesia, there is a growing interest in exploring cost-effective screening approaches, such as handheld echocardiography. Objective: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence of RHD in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Material and Methods: This descriptive observational study was conducted within the population of North Sumatra from 2022 to 2023. Junior high school students aged 12 to 15 years were included from randomly selected schools in Langkat, Tebing Tinggi, and Labuhan Batu. Data collection encompassed various parameters, including social demographic information, parental characteristics, environmental factors, household details, anthropometric measurements, physical assessments, auscultation findings, and echocardiographic data. The data were analyzed descriptively. Result: In our study, a total of 692 children were examined, with an average age of 12.9 years and a standard deviation of 1.1 years, among whom 42.5% were male. Utilizing echocardiographic evaluations, we identified RHD in four children, yielding a prevalence rate of 0.6%. Further examination of these cases revealed that the majority, accounting for three individuals (75%), exhibited borderline RHD, while one child (25%) presented with definite RHD. Conclusion: In our study population, the prevalence of RHD was 0.6%. A broader echocardiographic screening program is necessary to determine the overall prevalence of RHD, assess the disease burden, and identify individuals earlier to prevent adverse outcomes. Keyword: Echocardiography, Prevalence, Rheumatic Heart Disease, Screening.

Temporal Trends and Burden of Rheumatic Heart Disease in South Asia: A Comprehensive Analysis of Three Decades from Global Burden of Disease Study.

The objective of this study is to conduct a temporal analysis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) disease burden trends over a 30-year period (1991 to 2021), focusing on prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the South Asia (SA). In this ecological study, we analyzed data regarding burden of RHD from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study spanning the years 1991 to 2021 for the SA Region. Estimates of the number RHD-related prevalence, deaths, and DALYs along with age-standardized rates (ASR) per 100,000 population and 95% uncertainty intervals (UI) were evaluated. The overall prevalent cases of RHD in the 2021 were 54785.1 × 103 (43328.4 × 103 to 67605.5 × 103), out of which 14378.8 × 103 (11206.9 × 103 to 18056.9 × 103) were from SA. The ASR of point prevalence showed upward trend between 1991 and 2021, at global level and for SA with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 0.40 (0.39 to 0.40) and 0.12 (0.11 to 0.13), respectively. The overall number of RHD-related deaths in the 2021 were 373.3 × 103 (324.1 × 103 to 444.8 × 103), out of which 215 × 103 (176.9 × 103 to 287.8 × 103) were from SA, representing 57.6% of the global deaths. The ASR of deaths also showed downward trend between 1991 and 2021, at global level and for SA with an AAPC of -2.66 (-2.70 to -2.63) and -2.07 (-2.14 to -2.00), respectively. The ASR of DALYs showed downward trend between 1990 and 2019, at global level and for South Asian region with an AAPC of -2.47 (-2.49 to -2.44) and -2.22 (-2.27 to -2.17), respectively. The rising age-standardized prevalence of RHD remains a global concern, especially in South Asia which contribute to over 50% of global RHD-related deaths. Encouragingly, declining trends in RHD-related deaths and DALYs hint at progress in RHD management and treatment on both a global and regional scale.

Assessing the Role of Echocardiography in Pregnancy in First Nations Australian Women: Is it an Underutilised Resource?

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains prevalent within First Nations Australian communities. RHD is more common in females and peak prevalence corresponds with childbearing age. Significant valvular disease can complicate pregnancy. Current practice in Northern Australia is to refer pregnant women for echocardiography if there are signs or symptoms of possible cardiac pathology or a history of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) or RHD. It is not currently routine practice to offer echocardiographic screening for all pregnant women at high risk of RHD. This study aimed to assess the current referral practices for echocardiography and disease patterns in pregnant women in the Northern Territory, Australia-a region with a known high prevalence of RHD in the First Nations population. A retrospective analysis of all echocardiography referrals of pregnant women over a 4-year period was performed. Data included indication for echocardiography, clinical history, echocardiographic findings, and location of delivery. Comparisons were made using Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney U tests. A total of 322 women underwent echocardiography during pregnancy: 195 First Nations and 127 non-Indigenous women (median age, 25 vs 30 years, respectively; p<0.01). Indications for echocardiography differed by ethnicity, with history of ARF or RHD being the most common indication in First Nations women, and incidental murmur the most common in non-Indigenous women. First Nations women were more likely to have abnormal echocardiograms (35.9% vs 11.0% in non-Indigenous women; p<0.01) or a history of ARF or RHD (39.5% vs 0.8%; p<0.01), but less likely to have documented cardiac symptoms as an indication for echocardiography (8.2% vs 20.5%; p<0.01). New cardiac diagnoses were made during pregnancy in 11 (5.6%) First Nations and two (1.6%) non-Indigenous women (p=0.02). Moderate or severe valve lesions were detected in 26 (13.3%) First Nations women (all previously diagnosed), and 11 (5.6%) had previous cardiac surgery. No severe valve lesions were identified in the non-Indigenous group. Interstate transfer to a tertiary centre with valve intervention services was required during pregnancy or the puerperium for 12 (6.2%) First Nations women and no non-Indigenous women. Amongst pregnant women in the Northern Territory who had an indication for echocardiography, First Nations women were more likely to have abnormal echocardiograms. This was mainly due to valvular disease secondary to RHD. Cardiac symptoms were infrequently recorded as an indication for echocardiography in First Nations women, suggesting possible underappreciation of symptoms. Having a low threshold for echocardiographic investigation, including consideration of universal screening during pregnancy, is important in a high RHD-burden setting such as ours. A better understanding of the true prevalence and spectrum of disease severity in this population would enable health services to invest in appropriate resources.

Food and Cardiovascular Disease: What to Eat and What Not to Eat

In 2019, the Global Burden of Disease study revealed alarming statistics regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Pakistan. The estimated age-standardized incidence and death rates were 918.18 and 357.88 per 100,000 respectively, surpassing global averages.1 Notably, Pakistan faces unique challenges with a high prevalence of Rheumatic heart disease and early onset coronary artery disease.1&#x0D; The World Health Organization's 2021 factsheet underscores four pivotal modifiable behavioral risk factors for CVD and stroke: unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol consumption. These behaviors manifest in individuals as elevated blood pressure, glucose, lipids, and adverse body mass index, exacerbating cardiovascular risk.2 In Pakistan, the consumption of unhealthy foods and excessive calories significantly contributes to adverse cardiometabolic profiles, including obesity and dyslipidemia.2&#x0D; Recent research, such as that by Daruish Mozaffain et al. in "Food is Medicine," advocates for food-based interventions tailored to individual health conditions, ranging from medically tailored meals to nutritional and culinary education.3 However, Pakistani patients with CVD face challenges due to the lack of localized guidelines, educational resources, and accessible nutritionists. Shah et al.'s review underscores the importance of providing clear and culturally relevant dietary guidance for the local population.4&#x0D; Addressing these challenges requires the development of high-quality, culturally sensitive educational materials. These resources should be readily understandable, pictorial, and integrated into both inpatient and outpatient care. Local experts, including dietitians and researchers, can play a crucial role in creating tailored educational content. Figures 1 exemplify the efforts of these experts to provide practical guidance to the Pakistani population.4&#x0D; In conclusion, there is an urgent need for comprehensive, easy-to-understand patient education resources catering to the unique nutritional needs of Pakistani individuals with cardiovascular disease. By addressing these gaps, we can empower patients to make informed dietary choices and improve cardiovascular outcomes.&#x0D; References&#x0D; &#x0D; Samad Z, Hanif B. Cardiovascular Diseases in Pakistan: Imagining a Postpandemic, Postconflict Future. Circulation. 2023;147(17):1261-3.&#x0D; Liaquat A, Javed Q. Current trends of cardiovascular risk determinants in Pakistan. Cureus. 2018;10(10):e3409.&#x0D; Mozaffarian D, Aspry KE, Garfield K, Kris-Etherton P, Seligman H, Velarde GP, et al. “Food Is Medicine” Strategies for Nutrition Security and Cardiometabolic Health Equity: JACC State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2024;83(8):843-64.&#x0D; Shah SU, Waseem T, Afridi T, Shah MI. Nutritional Needs for Cardiovascular Health in Pakistani Population. Pak Heart J. 2022;55(2):101-13.&#x0D; American Heart Association. Lifestyle Changes for Heart Failure. Accessed on March 30, 2024. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-failure/treatment-options-for-heart-failure/lifestyle-changes-for-heart-failure&#x0D; American Diabetes Association. What superstar foods are good for diabetes? Accessed on March 30, 2024. Available at: https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition/food-and-blood-sugar/diabetes-superstar-foods&#x0D; American Heart Association. The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations. Accessed on March 30, 2024. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendations&#x0D; American Heart Association. Managing Blood Pressure with a Heart-Healthy Diet. Accessed on March 30, 2024. Available at: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/managing-blood-pressure-with-a-heart-healthy-diet&#x0D;

HEART HEALTH CHECK: SCREENING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE

This study examines the feasibility and effectiveness of screening university students for Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) as part of a broader public health initiative. RHD remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings, despite being largely preventable. The screening program targets university students due to their age group's susceptibility to RHD and the potential to intervene early in the disease progression. Through a combination of clinical assessments, echocardiography, and laboratory tests, students are evaluated for signs and symptoms of RHD. The findings shed light on the prevalence of RHD among university populations and the utility of targeted screening in identifying asymptomatic cases. This research contributes to the understanding of RHD epidemiology and informs strategies for early detection and intervention, thereby mitigating its burden on public health systems.

Agreement between Handheld and Standard Echocardiography for Diagnosis of Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease in Brazilian Schoolchildren from High-Prevalence Settings (Agreement between Screening and Standard Echo for RHD).

Introduction: Handheld echocardiography (echo) is the tool of choice for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) screening. We aimed to assess the agreement between screening and standard echo for latent RHD diagnosis in schoolchildren from an endemic setting. Methods: Over 14 months, 3 nonphysicians used handheld machines and the 2012 WHF Criteria to determine RHD prevalence in consented schoolchildren from Brazilian low-income public schools. Studies were interpreted by telemedicine by 3 experts (Brazil, US). RHD-positive children (borderline/definite) and those with congenital heart disease (CHD) were referred for standard echo, acquired and interpreted by a cardiologist. Agreement between screening and standard echo, by WHF subgroups, was assessed. Results: 1390 students were screened in 6 schools, with 110 (7.9%, 95% CI 6.5-9.5) being screen positive (14 ± 2 years, 72% women). Among 16 cases initially diagnosed as definite RHD, 11 (69%) were confirmed, 4 (25%) reclassified to borderline, and 1 to normal. Among 79 cases flagged as borderline RHD, 19 (24%) were confirmed, 50 (63%) reclassified to normal, 8 (10%) reclassified as definite RHD, and 2 had mild CHD. Considering the 4 diagnostic categories, kappa was 0.18. In patients with borderline RHD reclassified to non-RHD, the most frequent WHF criterion was B (isolated mitral regurgitation, 64%), followed by A (2 mitral valve morphological features, 31%). In 1 patient with definite RHD reclassified to normal, the WHF criterion was D (borderline RHD in aortic and mitral valves). After standard echo, RHD prevalence was 3.2% (95% CI 2.3-4.2). Conclusions: Although practical, RHD screening with handheld devices tends to overestimate prevalence.

Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease among School Students in a Rural Area of Minia District and the Role of Family Living Conditions as a Risk Factor

Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease among School Students in a Rural Area of Minia District and the Role of Family Living Conditions as a Risk Factor

Prevalence and pattern of rheumatic valvular heart disease in Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015-2023, population based studies.

Rheumatic heart disease is a global health concern with a persistently high incidence in developing countries, including Africa. It has a significant economic, morbidity, and mortality burden, particularly for children and young adults during their most productive years. However, in the last ten years, the extent of its impact in Africa has remained unclear. Limited studies conducted on the continent have reported diverse prevalence rates of rheumatic heart disease. As a result of these, the study aimed to aggregate and synthesize findings from population-based studies to offer a comprehensive and updated overview of rheumatic heart disease prevalence and pattern at the African level. The studies were identified through a comprehensive literature search of the electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Web searches, and manual searches. The descriptive information for the study is presented in the table, and the quantitative results are presented in forest plots. The Cochrane Q test and I2 test statistic were used to test heterogeneity across studies. The pooled estimate of the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was computed by a random effects model. Out of 22 population-based studies analyzed using random-effects, the pooled magnitude of rheumatic heart disease was found to be 18.41/1000 (95% CI: 14.08-22.73/1000). This comprised definite cases of rheumatic heart disease at a prevalence rate of 8.91/1000 (95% CI: 6.50-11.33/1000) and borderline cases at a prevalence rate of 10.69/1000 (95% CI: 7.74-13.65/1000). The combined prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in males was almost equivalent to that in females. Mitral valve regurgitation was the predominant valve affected by rheumatic heart disease, accounting for approximately 73%. This study analysis found the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Africa is high. Because of this, policies and interventions should give attention to prioritize continuous population based active surveillance for early detection of cases to the reduction of rheumatic heart disease sequel, especially in the children and adolescent population.

Prevalence, pattern and trend of rheumatic heart disease in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria: A 12-year retrospective echocardiographic study

Abstract Introduction Though the health-related burden of rheumatic heart disease has been reported to decline worldwide, rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) still remains one of the major causes of death and disability in developing countries.(1) In 2019, RHD affected about 40.5 million people globally and caused over 300,000 deaths, mostly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), with the potential to undermine national productivity since it affects the most productive part of the population.(2) This preventable, treatable but not curable form of cardiovascular disease is needlessly killing many, mainly due to the misunderstanding of its burden in these countries. Purpose To determine the prevalence, pattern and trend of RHD over the 12-year period in our facility using echocardiography. Methods This hospital services population of 6.3 million people in the region.(3) In this retrospective cross-sectional study, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) data collected from cardiology unit in our facility over a twelve-years period (2009 to 2020) were reviewed. RHD diagnosis was based on the World Heart Federation Criteria for the diagnosis of RHD.(4) Patients with a diagnosis of RHD were identified and presented as a proportion of the total number of cardiac diseases presenting at the facility. Demographic data, pattern of valvular involvement and echocardiographic indications were recorded. The Cochran-Armitage trend test was used to identify the presence of a trend in the RHD proportion across the 12 years. Results Over a 12-year period from 2009 to 2020, 3311 TTE was done and 3259 (98.43%) results were correctly captured. Seven hundred and ninety-one had RHD at prevalence of 24.27% over the period. More females had RHD compared to males (56.05%versus 43.95%), p=0.06. Those with RHD were significantly younger than those without RHD (48.34 versus 52.14 years, p&amp;lt;0.001). Pure mitral regurgitation (MR) was the commonest valve lesion seen in 258 patients (32.62%), and was frequently associated with aortic regurgitation (AR) in 263 patients (33.29%), followed by pure AR in 200 patients (25.28%). Nineteen patients (2.40%) had pure aortic stenosis (AS), 10 patients (1.26%) had mixed AR + AS. Six patients (0.76%) had MR + AS, as well as pure MS respectively and only 4 patients (0.51%) had MR + MS. The highest prevalence was recorded in 2011 at 46.6% and 46.2% in 2012. The lowest prevalence were seen in 2019 (12.4%) and 2016 (13.2%). Prevalences were higher in the first 5 years (2009 to 2013) and began to reduce from 2014 to 2022. The commonest indications for TTE were hypertensive heart disease (40.06 %), congestive heart failure (24.66%) and valvular heart disease (9.55%). Conclusion RHD is still an important cause of cardiac morbidity despite the decreasing trend in recent years and the commonest valve lesion was mitral regurgitation. It will be valuable to investigate latent RHD and patients’ outcomes for better estimate of the burden of the disease.Comparing patterns of valve abnormalityTrend of Rheumatic heart disease

Seven year follow up of subclinical rheumatic disease using WHF criteria

Abstract Background The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is higher using echocardiographic screening compared with clinical examination. It is proven that clinical screening underestimates the prevalence, but it still remains the cornerstone for the purpose of intervention. Echocardiography can identify subclinical RHD and can be used for subclinical cases and to see progression /regression on follow up. Follow-up data of children with subclinical lesions are very much needed before implementing large scale screening programs in endemic regions. We are submitting the 7 year follow up data for subclinical RHD who were on RF prophylaxis. Method A total of 3000 school going children were screened echocardiographically during November 2015 to December 2018 for subclinical rheumatic heart disease using WHF criteria. Subjects with subclinical rheumatic heart disease were given prophylaxis for rheumatic fever in form of injection Benzathine penicillin or oral penicillin or tablet erythromycin depending upon tolerance and acceptance. These cases were followed up at 2-year and 7-year for echocardiographic evaluation and compliance to the prophylaxis. Results Out of 3000 cases screened, 114 were found to be having subclinical rheumatic heart disease. 39 subjects turned up for 2-year follow up and 13 subjects turned up for 7-year follow up(Table 1). All 13 were on rheumatic fever prophylaxis. 23% ( 3 out of 13) turned to be with normal echocardiography findings using WHF 2012 criteria. Limitation: Children who were not taking prophylaxis were not evaluated echocardiographically, therefore comparison could not be done. Conclusion Our study shows screening of school going children by echocardiography can detect subclinical rheumatic heart disease and rheumatic fever prophylaxis in such cases can results in reversion of the lesion and prevention of progression of RHD.

Abstract 16681: Echocardiogram-Based Screening and Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Children and Adolescents From Endemic Areas: A Systematic Review and Updated Meta-Analysis

Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the leading cause of cardiac death in children, posing a significant burden to health systems, particularly in developing countries. Echocardiogram is a sensitive tool to identify early RHD patients, who may benefit from secondary prevention. Therefore, we performed an updated meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of latent RHD using echocardiogram-based screening performed in endemic regions across the globe. Methods: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Lilacs databases were searched for cross-sectional studies reporting the prevalence of RHD in individuals aged 5-20 years, through echocardiogram-based screening programs in endemic areas. Studies with screening based on auscultation were excluded. Echocardiography-detected RHD was considered as borderline or definite by World Heart Federation (WHF) criteria and possible, probable or definite by World Heart Organization (WHO) criteria. We used random-effects models to assess the prevalence of RHD according to the geographic distribution. Results: A total of 57 studies were included, with a total of 224,100 screened subjects. WHF criteria for RHD echocardiographic diagnosis were used in 46 studies, WHO criteria in 6, and others in 3. The overall prevalence of echocardiography detected RHD was 23 per 1,000 individuals (95% CI 18 to 29 per 1,000), with a pooled prevalence of definitive RHD of 9 per 1,000 individuals (95% CI 7 to 12 per 1,000). Analysis of the prevalence of echocardiography detected RHD in different continents yielded an overall prevalence of 21 per 1,000 (95% CI 14 to 31 per 1,000) in Africa, 28 per 1,000 (95% CI 18 to 42 per 1,000) in Oceania, 21 per 1,000 (95% CI 15 to 30 per 1,000) in Asia, and 22 per 1,000 (95% CI 6 to 76 per 1,000) in Latin America. Conclusion: Screening programs incorporating echocardiography found a significant prevalence of RHD, in the range of 20 to 30 per 1,000 children and adolescents screened in endemic areas across different continents.

Abstract 14701: Agreement Between Handheld and Standard Echocardiography for Diagnosis of Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease in Brazilian Schoolchildren From High-Prevalence Settings

Background: Handheld echocardiography (echo) is the tool of choice for Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) screening, based on the 2012 World Heart Federation (WHF) Criteria. We aimed to assess the agreement between screening and standard echo for diagnosis of latent RHD in schoolchildren from an endemic setting. Methods: Over 14 months, 3 non-physicians used handheld machines (GE, VSCAN) and the 2012 WHF Criteria to determine RHD prevalence in low-income public schools in Minas Gerais, Southeast Brazil. Consented children were eligible for participation. Studies were interpreted remotely using a telemedicine cloud-server by 2 experts in Brazil and the US. RHD-positive children (borderline and definite) and those with congenital heart disease (CHD) were referred for standard echo with portable devices (GE, Vivid IQ), with acquisition and interpretation by an expert cardiologist. Agreement between screening and standard echo, by category and according to the WHD criteria, was assessed, and the kappa statistic was applied. Results: A total of 1,390 students were screened in 6 schools and, among these, 110 (7.9%, 95% CI 6.5 - 9.5) were screen-positive and referred for standard echo, with mean age of 14±2 years, 80 (72%) women. Among the 16 cases initially diagnosed as definite RHD, 11 (69%) were confirmed, 4 (25%) reclassified to borderline and 1 to normal. Among the 79 cases flagged as borderline RHD, 19 (24%) were confirmed, 50 (63%) reclassified to normal, 8 (10%) to definite RHD and 2 had mild CHD. Among 11 children with CHD in screening, 4 were confirmed, 5 were reclassified to normal and 2 to RHD. Considering the 4 diagnostic categories, kappa was 0.18. In patients with borderline RHD reclassified to non-RHD, the most frequent WHF criteria was B (isolated mitral regurgitation): 64%, followed by A (2 morphological features of the mitral valve): 31%. In the only patient with definite RHD reclassified to normal, WHF criteria was D (borderline RHD in aortic and mitral valves). After standard echo, RHD prevalence was 3.2% (95% CI 2.3 - 4.2). Conclusions: Although practical, RHD screening with handheld devices tend to overestimate prevalence. Even in endemic settings, continuous education for detection, and application of risk stratification for management are crucial.

Abstract 14599: A Pilot Rheumatic Heart Disease Screening Program Using Portable, Handheld Echocardiography in Rivas, Nicaragua

Introduction: Portable, handheld echocardiography offers several advantages for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) screening in low-resource settings. Analyses of focused protocols using handheld echocardiography have yielded acceptable sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of RHD, including in those performed by non-expert sonographers. Previous studies estimate high burden of RHD in Nicaragua. We conducted a pilot community-based RHD screening program using handheld echocardiography in Rivas, Nicaragua using contemporary RHD diagnostic criteria. Methods: Non-expert sonographers were trained using the GE Vscan Extend TM device and a simplified version of the 2012 World Heart Federation criteria for diagnosis of RHD. Referral criteria for complete echocardiogram included the presence of a mitral regurgitant jet of &gt; 2.0 cm, aortic regurgitant jet &gt; 1.0 cm, or any morphologic abnormality of the mitral or aortic valve, as well as left ventricular dysfunction or significant congenital heart disease. Participants were recruited by convenience-based sampling in communities throughout Rivas, Nicaragua. Participants were notified at the point-of-care of need for complete echocardiogram. All studies were overread asynchronously by expert readers for diagnostic accuracy. Results: Between March 2022 and April 2023, 494 screening echocardiographic studies were performed and evaluated for diagnostic accuracy. The median age was 36.3 years (IQR 19.2, 56.2), 22% of participants were &lt;18 years of age, and 60% of participants were female. There were 17.6% of participants referred for complete echocardiogram at the point-of-care compared with 13.0% meeting referral criteria on expert review. Negative and positive predictive values for non-expert vs. expert assessment were 92.4% and 62.1%, respectively. Cohen’s kappa for inter-rater reliability was 0.338, suggesting fair agreement. Conclusions: This pilot program demonstrated the feasibility of a screening program for RHD in rural Nicaragua with non-expert sonographers. Lessons from this program are intended to inform future epidemiological studies to determine the population prevalence and longitudinal outcomes of RHD in this region.

Rheumatic Heart Disease in East Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Despite being a grave problem, there is little information on rheumatic heart disease's prevalence in East Africa. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in East Africa. A computerized systematic search of using multiple database searching engines was performed in search of relevant English articles from the inception of the databases to December 2019. It was done in accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA) standard. The funnel plot was used to assess publication bias. R and RStudio for Windows were used for all statistical analysis. The random-effect model was used for calculating the pooled estimate of the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease. The database search retrieved 1073 papers, and 80 articles (78 cross-sectional and two cohort study designs) with a total of 184575 individuals were found to be appropriate for the review. In East Africa, the overall prevalence of rheumatic heart disease was 14.67% (95% CI: 13.99% to 15.35%). In Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, and Sudan, respectively, the subgroup analysis of rheumatic heart disease pooled prevalence was 22% (95% CI: 13% to 36%), 11% (95%t CI: 5% to 20%), 9% (95%t CI: 5% to 16%), and 3% (95%t CI: 1% to 10%), while the pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in adults was 20% (95% CI: 12% to 30%), and in children, it was 4% (95% CI: 2% to 8%). From this report, the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in East Africa is very high, affecting about one in seven people. Therefore, future strategies should emphasize preventive measures at appropriate times to minimize the burden of this type of preventable heart disease.

Rheumatic heart disease burden, trends, and inequalities in Asia, 1990–2019

ABSTRACT Background Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a serious global public health problem. Objectives This study aims to characterise the regional burden, trends, and inequalities of RHD in countries and territories in the Asian Region. Methods The RHD disease burden was measured in terms of the numbers of cases and deaths, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), disability-loss healthy life years (YLDs), and years of life lost (YLLs) in 48 countries in the Asian Region. Data on RHD were extracted from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease. This study analysed changing trends in the burden between 1990 and 2019, quantified regional inequalities in mortality, and classified countries by 2019 YLLs. Results There were an estimated 22 246 127 cases of RHD in the Asian Region in 2019 and 249 830 deaths. The prevalence of RHD in the Asian Region in 2019 was 9% lower than the global estimate, while mortality was 41% higher. The mortality rate for RHD in the Asian Region trended downwards from 1990 to 2019, with an average annual percentage change of −3.2% (95% UI −3.3 to −3.1). From 1990 to 2019, absolute inequality in RHD-related mortality decreased in the Asian Region while relative inequality increased. Of the 48 countries studied, twelve had the highest level of RHD YLLs in 2017 and the smallest reduction in YLLs from 1990 to 2019. Conclusion Although the burden of RHD in the Asian Region has steadily decreased since 1990, it remains a serious public health issue requiring greater attention. In the Asian Region, inequalities in the distribution of the RHD burden remain significant, with economically deprived countries typically bearing a greater share of the load.

Spatiotemporal trends in global burden of rheumatic heart disease and associated risk factors from 1990 to 2019

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to estimate the burden of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and its trends in different countries, regions, genders and age groups globally. MethodsData were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) and the estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) in the ASRs were used to describe the burden of disease and its trends. Pearson's correlation was used to evaluate the correlation between sociodemographic index (SDI) values and the observed trends. ResultsIn 2019, the ASRs of the incidence, prevalence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of RHD were 37.39/105 (95%UI, 28.59/105 to 46.74/105), 513.68/105 (95%UI, 405.01/105 to 636.25/105), 3.85/105 (95%UI, 4.29/105 to 3.29/105) and 132.88/105 (95%UI, 115.02/105 to 150.34/105), respectively. From 1990 to 2019, the incidence and prevalence of RHD showed upward trends and the mortality and DALYs showed downward trends. Countries or regions in Africa, South America and South Asia had a greater burden of RHD. The burden of RHD was greater in women, where as men showed more obvious increasing trends in the incidence and prevalence. The incidence of RHD was highest in adolescents, and the prevalence was highest in young and middle-aged. The mortality and DALYs rate associated with RHD increased with age. The EAPCs in the ASRs were negatively correlated with the SDI value. ConclusionAlthough the ASRs of mortality and DALYs attributable to RHD are decreasing globally, RHD remains an important public health problem that needs to be addressed urgently, especially in certain low- and middle-income countries and regions.

Screening for the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among school children in Egypt.

In low-income nations, Rheumatic valvular heart disease remains a major cause of morbidity and premature deaths. Accurate prevalence data in Egypt are still lacking yet highly desirable to facilitate health care planning. An cluster sample of school children in eastern Egyptian Governorates was examined clinically and echocardiographically (using abbreviated protocol) for detection of rheumatic valvular heart disease based on 2012 World Heart Federation criteria (the Doppler and the morphological criteria) for diagnosis. According to echocardiography interpretation, participants were categorized as having definite rheumatic heart disease (RHD), borderline RHD or no RHD. A total of 1680 students aged between 6 and 18 years were screened, 119 echocardiographic studies were non-interpretable; so, a total of 1560 studies were evaluated. From the total screened students, 1560 studies were adequate and interpretable according to the criteria specified in the methods section. This revealed a prevalence of 2.3% of the sample with RHD without adding the equivocal cases. The most prevalent lesion as detected by echocardiography was mitral regurgitation (29% of definite RHD cases). Rheumatic valvular heart disease remains prevalent in Egypt and the findings of this study should influence early detection, primary and secondary prevention, and adequate future national health plans.

Evaluating Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes in Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Surgery for Patients with Rheumatic Disease

Minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) is widespread and has become a standard procedure in cardiac surgery [Chitwood 1997; Carpentier 1996]. Therefore, MIMVS is a common procedure for patients with degenerative disease [Raanani 2010; Iribarne 2010] as well. However, the safety of MIMVS in patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has not thoroughly been investigated, due to the low prevalence of RHD in developed countries, where MIMVS is standardized [Miceli 2015]. Here, we investigated the safety of MIMVS for patients with RHD at Lampang Hospital in Thailand.