Tadesse Dukessa Gemechu|Hamdy Mahmoud|Eldryd Parry|David I. W. Phillips|Magdi H. Yacoub
Community-based prevalence study of rheumatic heart disease in rural Ethiopia
Jimma University|Aswan University|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit|University of Southampton|Aswan University|Imperial College London
chronic rheumatic heart disease rhd continues health problem many low middle income countries especially subsaharan africa echocardiography shown disease far widespread may detected clinical assessment data lacking prevalence epidemiological features rural africa communitybased prevalence survey used transthoracic echocardiography carry populationbased study rhd rural area ethiopia total 987 participants aged 6 25 selected cluster sampling prevalence rhd assessed current consensus world heart federation criteria 37 definite cases rhd 19 borderline cases giving overall prevalence 375 cases per 1000 population 95 ci 269518 rising 567 95 ci 439735 borderline cases included prevalence definite disease rose peak 60 cases per 1000 aged 1620 years falling 11 cases per 1000 subjects aged 2125 years 37 definite disease 36 evidence mitral valve seven evidence aortic valve disease rhd high prevalence rural ethiopia although followup needed determine disease develops advancing age data provide evidence disease important health problem rural subsaharan africa requiring urgent concerted action