What does this research mean for the field?

The pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among school-aged children in low- and middle-income countries is 2.46%, indicating a continued disease burden with significant regional variability. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate the pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among school-aged children across low- and middle-income countries.

April 13, 2026CureusOpen Access

Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease Among School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

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Why the study?

Rheumatic heart disease is a preventable acquired valvular heart disease causing progressive damage and morbidity, prompting an evaluation of its pooled prevalence among school-age children in low- and middle-income countries.

Population

25,292 school-age children across eight LMICs

Authors

MOMiriam A OkorieEast Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust COCollins C OkekeUniversity of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital ONOnyinye NgigeNnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Warrants enhanced screening in LMIC schoolchildren; reinforces significant burden but leaves open precise estimates given high heterogeneity.

Key Points

To evaluate the pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) among school-aged children across low- and middle-income countries.
Systematic review searching PubMed and Google Scholar through December 5, 2025, including 10 peer-reviewed articles evaluating children aged six to 15 years in eight LMICs.
Sample comprised 25,292 school-aged children evaluated using echocardiographic screening, with study-level mean ages ranging from nine to 14 years.
Pooled prevalence was calculated using a random-effects model with Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation and evaluated for heterogeneity via the Cochrane Q test and I² index.
Overall pooled prevalence of RHD was 2.46% (95% CI: 1.15%-4.25%) with substantial heterogeneity across studies (I² = 98.3%, Cochrane’s Q = 515.23, p < 0.001).
Subgroup analysis showed a higher pooled prevalence in the African region at 3.01% (95% CI: 1.63%–4.81%; 7 studies, N=10,662) than in non-African regions at 1.45% (95% CI: 0.00%–5.25%; 3 studies, N=14,630).
Individual prevalence rates ranged from 0.12% (95% CI: 0.06%-0.21%) in Nepal to 8.59% (95% CI: 4.77%-13.97%) in Uganda, identifying 130 male and 152 female cases overall.

Structured PICO

Population

25,292 school-age children (6 to 15 years old) across 8 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with mean age ranging from 9 to 14 years.

Outcome

Pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD)

The pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among school-aged children in LMICs is 2.46%, highlighting a continued significant burden that requires strengthened screening and prevention programs.

Limitations

High heterogeneity across studies (I² = 98.3%)

Cite This Study

Okorie et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69dc88303afacbeac03ea268 https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.106833

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Implication

Warrants enhanced screening in LMIC schoolchildren; reinforces significant burden but leaves open precise estimates given high heterogeneity.

Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease Among School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Prevalence of Rheumatic Heart Disease Among School-Aged Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Limitations

Cite This Study

Also Consider

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