Echocardiographic screening to determine progression of latent rheumatic heart disease in endemic areas: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Follow-up echocardiographic changes in children and youth aged <25 years with latent rheumatic heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of global data

OBJECTIVES

To estimate progression, regression and persistence rates for borderline and mild-definite latent RHD in children and youth diagnosed at age < 25 years.

METHODS

A review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Electronic databases were searched for latent RHD echocardiography follow-up studies which used World Heart Federation diagnostic criteria. A meta-analysis of outcomes was conducted for borderline and mild-definite disease subcategories.

RESULTS

Data for 1618 individuals from 12 studies were included. For borderline cases, 48.51% regressed (95%CI 45.10-51.93), 13.99% progressed (95%CI 9.72-18.25), and 38.61% had persistent (unchanged) disease at follow-up (95%CI 29.68-47.54). For mild-definite cases, 34.01% regressed (95%CI 28.88-39.15), 8.06% progressed (95%CI 3.65-16.90), and 60.23% had persistent disease (95%CI 55.08-67.38).

CONCLUSIONS

Borderline and mild-definite latent RHD show variable evolution following initial diagnosis. While 8% of mild-definite and 14% borderline cases had signs of disease progression at follow-up, a third of mild-definite and half of borderline cases had disease regression, even with sub adequate antibiotic prophylaxis. The significant variability between study cohorts suggests latent RHD natural history is likely variable between different endemic regions globally. Future research is needed to identify those individuals who would most benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis and determine regional natural history of latent RHD.

Outcomes of latent rheumatic heart disease: External validation of a simplified score in patients with and without secondary prophylaxis

BACKGROUND

Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis reduces progression of latent rheumatic heart disease (RHD) but not all children benefit. Improved risk stratification could refine recommendations following positive screening. We aimed to evaluate the performance of a previously developed echocardiographic risk score to predict mid-term outcomes among children with latent RHD.

METHODS

We included children who completed the GOAL, a randomized trial of secondary antibiotic prophylaxis among children with latent RHD in Uganda. Outcomes were determined by a 4-member adjudication panel. We applied the point-based score, consisting of 5 variables (mitral valve (MV) anterior leaflet thickening (3 points), MV excessive leaflet tip motion (3 points), MV regurgitation jet length ≥ 2 cm (6 points), aortic valve focal thickening (4 points) and any aortic regurgitation (5 points)), to panel results. Unfavorable outcome was defined as progression of diagnostic category (borderline to definite, mild definite to moderate/severe definite), worsening valve involvement or remaining with mild definite RHD.

RESULTS

799 patients (625 borderline and 174 definite RHD) were included, with median follow-up of 24 months. At total 116 patients (14.5%) had unfavorable outcome per study criteria, 57.8% not under prophylaxis. The score was strongly associated with unfavorable outcome (HR = 1.26, 95% CI 1.16-1.37, p < 0.001). Unfavorable outcome rates in low (≤6 points), intermediate (7-9 points) and high-risk (≥10 points) children at follow-up were 11.8%, 30.4%, and 42.2%, (p < 0.001) respectively (C-statistic = 0.64 (95% CI 0.59-0.69)).

CONCLUSIONS

The simple risk score provided an accurate prediction of RHD status at 2-years, showing a good performance in a population with milder RHD phenotypes.

The burden of rheumatic heart disease in the Middle East and North Africa region, 1990-2019

BACKGROUND

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a treatable and preventable condition resulting from acute rheumatic fever.

AIM

To report the prevalence, mortality and disability-adjusted life-years (DALY) due to RHD in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from 1990 to 2019, by sex, age group, country and sociodemographic index (SDI).

METHODS

Information on the prevalence, mortality and DALY associated with RHD were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Data were gathered for all countries in the MENA region over the period 1990-2019. These data included counts and age-standardized rates per 100,000, accompanied by 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs).

RESULTS

The MENA region had an age-standardized point prevalence of 388.9 per 100,000 in 2019, which was 5.4% higher than in 1990. The annual incidence rate was 1.6, which was 63.4% lower than in 1990. There were 379.4 thousand DALY attributable to RHD in 2019, with an age-standardized rate of 67.1, which was 61.3% lower than in 1990. In 2019, an estimated 7.4 thousand deaths were due to RHD, and the age-standardized death rate was 63.4% lower in 2019 than in 1990. DALY rates rose steadily with increasing age in both males and females. The SDI correlated negatively with the rate of DALY for RHD throughout the study period.

CONCLUSION

The burden of RHD in MENA declined from 1990 to 2019, demonstrating the importance of regularly updating health data and identifying risk factors, and developing effective guidelines on prevention.

Detection and management of latent rheumatic heart disease: a narrative review

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a public health concern in many developing nations around the world. Early detection of latent or subclinical RHD can help in reversing mild lesions, retarding disease progression, reducing morbidity and mortality, and improving the quality of life of patients. Echocardiography is the gold-standard method for screening and confirming latent RHD cases. The rates and determinants of progression of latent RHD cases as assessed by echocardiography have been found to be variable through studies. Even though latent RHD has a slow rate of progression, the rate of progression of its subtype, 'definite' RHD, is substantial. A brief training of nonexpert operators on the use of handheld echocardiography with a simplified protocol is an important strategy to scale up the screening program to detect latent cases. Newer advancements in screening, such as deep-learning digital stethoscopes and telehealth services, have provided an opportunity to expand screening programs even in resource-constrained settings. Newer studies have established the efficacy and safety profile of secondary antibiotic prophylaxis in latent RHD. The concerned authorities in endemic regions of the world should work on improving the availability and accessibility of antibiotic prophylaxis.

Abbreviated Echocardiographic Screening for Rheumatic Heart Disease by Nonexperts with and without Offsite Expert Review: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study

BACKGROUND

Early detection of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) through echocardiographic screening can facilitate early access to effective treatment, which reduces the risk for progression. Accurate, feasible approaches to echocardiographic screening that can be incorporated into routine health services are needed. The authors hypothesized that offsite expert review could improve the diagnostic accuracy of nonexpert-obtained echocardiographic images.

METHODS

This prospective cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of health worker-conducted single parasternal long-axis view with a sweep of the heart using hand-carried ultrasound for the detection of RHD in high-risk populations in Timor-Leste and Australia. In the primary analysis, the presence of any mitral or aortic regurgitation met the criteria for a positive screening result. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for a screen-and-refer approach based on nonexpert practitioner assessment (approach 1) and for an approach using offsite expert review of nonexpert practitioner-obtained images to decide onward referral (approach 2). Each participant had a reference test performed by an expert echocardiographer on the same day as the index test. Diagnosis of RHD was determined by a panel of three experts, using 2012 World Heart Federation criteria.

RESULTS

The prevalence of borderline or definite RHD among 3,329 participants was 4.0% (95% CI, 3.4%-4.7%). The sensitivity of approach 1 for borderline or definite RHD was 86.5% (95% CI, 79.5%-91.8%), and the specificity was 61.4% (95% CI, 59.7%-63.1%). Approach 2 achieved similar sensitivity (88.4%; 95% CI, 81.5%-93.3%) and improved specificity (77.1%; 95% CI, 75.6%-78.6%).

CONCLUSION

Nonexpert practitioner-obtained single parasternal long-axis view with a sweep of the heart images, reviewed by an offsite expert, can detect borderline and definite RHD on screening with reasonable sensitivity and specificity. Brief training of nonexpert practitioners with ongoing support could be used as an effective strategy for scaling up echocardiographic screening for RHD in high-risk settings.

Community-based prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in rural Ethiopia: Five-year follow-up

BACKGROUND

As little is known about the prevalence and clinical progression of subclinical (latent) rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in sub-Saharan Africa, we report the results of a 5 year follow-up of a community based, echocardiographic study of the disease, originally carried out in a rural area around Jimma, Ethiopia.

METHODS

Individuals with evidence of RHD detected during the baseline study as well as controls and their family members were screened with a short questionnaire together with transthoracic echocardiography.

RESULTS

Of 56 individuals with RHD (37 definite and 19 borderline) in the original study, 36 (26 definite and 10 borderline) were successfully located 57.3 (range 44.9-70.7) months later. At follow-up two thirds of the definite cases still had definite disease; while a third had regressed. Approximately equal numbers of the borderline cases had progressed and regressed. Features of RHD had appeared in 5 of the 60 controls. There was an increased risk of RHD in the family relatives of borderline and definite cases (3.8 and 4.0 times respectively), notably among siblings. Compliance with penicillin prophylaxis was very poor.

CONCLUSIONS

We show the persistence of echocardiographically demonstrable RHD in a rural sub-Saharan population. Both progression and regression of the disease were found; however, the majority of the individuals who had definite features of RHD had evidence of continuing RHD lesions five years later. There was an increased risk of RHD in the family relatives of borderline and definite cases, notably among siblings. The findings highlight the problems faced in addressing the problem of RHD in the rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa. They add to the evidence that community-based interventions for RHD will be required, together with appropriate ways of identifying active disease, achieving adequate penicillin prophylaxis and developing vaccines for primary prevention.

Diagnosing rheumatic heart disease: where are we now and what are the challenges?

INTRODUCTION

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a sequela of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), affects 40.5 million people worldwide. The burden of disease disproportionately falls on low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) and sub-populations within high-income countries (HIC). Advances have been made in earlier detection of RHD, though several barriers to ideal management persist.

AREAS COVERED

This article reviews the current burden of RHD, highlighting the disparate impact of disease. It also reviews the clinical and echocardiographic presentation of RHD, as some may present in late stages of disease with associated complications. Finally, we review the advances which have been made in echocardiographic screening to detect latent RHD, highlighting the challenges which remain regarding secondary prophylaxis management and uncertainty of best practices for treatment of latent RHD.

EXPERT OPINION

Advances in technology and validation of portable echocardiography have made screening and identifying latent RHD feasible in the most burdened regions. However, uncertainty remains around best management of those with latent RHD and best methods to ensure ideal secondary prophylaxis for RHD. Research regarding latent RHD management, as well as continued work on innovative solutions (such as group A streptococcal vaccine), are promising as efforts to improve outcomes of this preventable disease persist.

The "Cairo Accord"- Towards the Eradication of RHD: An Update

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common cause of acquired heart disease in children and young adults. It continues to be prevalent in many low- and middle-income countries where it causes significant morbidity and mortality. Following the 2017 Cairo conference "Rheumatic Heart Disease: from Molecules to the Global Community," experts from 21 countries formulated an approach for addressing the problem of RHD: "The Cairo Accord on Rheumatic Heart Disease." The Accord attempts to set policy priorities for the eradication of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and RHD and builds on a recent series of policy initiatives and calls to action. We present an update on the recommendations of the Cairo Accord and discuss recent progress toward the eradication of RHD, including contributions from our own Aswan Rheumatic Heart Disease Registry (ARGI).