SynthesisPloS one2024
Prevalence and pattern of rheumatic valvular heart disease in Africa: Systematic review and meta-analysis, 2015-2023, population based studies.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- An echocardiographic appreciation of rheumatic heart disease: phenotypic variability of valvular involvement and its prognostic implications.Lancet regional health. Americas · 2026Review
- Article
- Review
- Knowledge, attitudes and practices of clinicians in Shenzhen regarding pediatric streptococcal pharyngitis diagnosis and treatment.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Article
- Global burden of rheumatic vs non-rheumatic valvular heart disease, 1990-2021: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study.Clinical rheumatology · 2025Article
- Serum Branched-Chain Amino Acids and Chronic Rheumatic Heart Diseases: Evidence From a Population-Based Prospective Study.Reviews in cardiovascular medicine · 2025Article
- Geographic Variations, Peculiarities, and Management of Heart Failure in Sub-Saharan Africa.Current heart failure reports · 2025Review
- Gender specific echocardiographic prevalence of valvular stenosis and regurgitations in a large inpatient database of 24,265 patients.American journal of cardiovascular disease · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundRheumatic 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.
methodsThe 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.
resultsOut 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%.
conclusionThis 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.
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