Declining trend of rheumatic fever observed in Bangladesh, 1991-1997

Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Bangladesh: A review

Rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are the most-common cardiovascular disease in young people aged <25 years, globally. They are important contributors to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh. Classical risk factors, i.e. poverty, overcrowding, ignorance, and insufficient health care services were responsible for the high incidence and prevalence of these diseases over the last century. In concert with the progresses in socioeconomic indicators, advances in health sectors, improved public awareness, and antibiotic prophylaxis, acute RF came into control. However, chronic RHD continues to be prevalent, and the actual disease burden may be much higher. RHD predominantly affects the young adults, seriously incapacitates them, follows a protracted course, gets complicated because of delayed diagnosis and is sometimes maltreated. The treatment is often palliative and expensive. Large-scale epidemiological and clinical researches are needed to formulate evidence-based national policy to tackle this important public health issue in future.

Prevalence of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Bangladeshi children

BACKGROUND

Recent prevalence data on rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are lacking in Bangladeshi population.

AIM

We have done this national level cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence of RF and RHD in Bangladeshi children.

METHODS

Samples were drawn from three out of seven divisions of Bangladesh from both urban and rural areas. Trained and experienced enumerators visited households to suspect cases of RF or RHD in 5-19 years children by asking structured questions on symptoms and signs of RF and RHD (n = 56,827). Then trained doctors again took history and examined them for RF/RHD. RF was defined according to the Modified Jones Criteria 1992. Doppler echocardiography was done to confirm the diagnosis in all suspected cases of RF/RHD.

RESULTS

A total of 36 RF cases (new and old) and 16 Doppler echocardiography confirmed RHD cases were identified. Prevalence of RF and RHD was 0.9 per 1000 (95% confidence interval: 0.7-1.2) while prevalence of RF was 0.6 per 1000 (95% CI: 0.4-0.9) and RHD 0.3 per 1000 (95% CI: 0.2-0.5).

CONCLUSION

Observed prevalence of RF and RHD indicates that RF/RHD is disappearing from Bangladesh. However, studies using new technology of portable echocardiographic screening are needed.