Key result
Echocardiographic screening reveals ~2% RHD prevalence in Peruvian schoolchildren under modified WHO criteria.
Why the study?
The implications of different classifications of rheumatic heart disease on estimated prevalence and the importance of incidental findings from echocardiographic screening among Peruvian schoolchildren were not well characterized.
Population
1023 schoolchildren aged 5 to 16 years from randomly selected public and private schools in Arequipa, Peru
Comparison
Rheumatic heart disease defined by modified WHO criteria vs WHF criteria
Design
Cluster randomized observational survey using portable echocardiography
Authors
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May inform targeted screening in moderate-endemicity regions; leaves open optimal criteria and prospective outcome validation.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,023)
Single-blind (physicians blinded to each other's findings)
Cluster randomized sampling
Yes
Echocardiographic screening in Peruvian schoolchildren revealed a lower prevalence of rheumatic heart disease compared to highly endemic regions, alongside a notable rate of undetected congenital heart disease.
Spitzer et al. (2015) conducted a cross-sectional in Rheumatic heart disease (n=1,023). Echocardiographic screening was evaluated on Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease according to modified WHO criteria. Echocardiographic screening of Peruvian schoolchildren revealed a rheumatic heart disease prevalence of 19.7 per 1,000 using modified WHO criteria and 3.9 per 1,000 using WHF criteria.
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