Key result
Acquired heart diseases represent a significant, neglected cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in LMICs.
Why the study?
The burden of acquired cardiac disease in children in low-income and middle-income countries is significant and comparable to congenital heart disease, with high mortality and morbidity and limited access to care.
Highlights the urgent need to improve cardiac care for children with acquired heart diseases in low- and middle-income countries.
Alerts clinicians to neglected acquired heart diseases in LMIC children; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective studies before guiding policy.
The burden of illness associated with acquired cardiac disease in children in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) is significant and may be equivalent to that of congenital heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease, endomyocardial fibrosis, cardiomyopathy (including HIV cardiomyopathy) and tuberculosis are the most important causes. All are associated with poverty with the neediest children having the least access to care. The associated mortality and morbidity is high. There is an urgent need to improve cardiac care in LMIC, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Southeast Asia where the burden is highest.
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Curry et al. (2017) conducted a review in Acquired heart disease (Rheumatic heart disease, endomyocardial fibrosis, dilated cardiomyopathy, tuberculous pericarditis). Acquired heart diseases, including rheumatic heart disease, endomyocardial fibrosis, cardiomyopathy, and tuberculous pericarditis, represent a significant and neglected cause of morbidity and mortality among children in low- and middle-income countries.
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