Global prevalence and sex differences in rheumatic heart disease: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a sequela of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), remains as the leading cause of acquired cardiac disease in children, posing a significant burden to health systems, especially in low-to-middle-income countries. While ARF shows equal prevalence among sexes in children, clinically manifest RHD in adulthood is strikingly more prevalent in females, with at least a 2:1 ratio. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the global prevalence of RHD and sex disparities alongside risk factors.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Lilacs were searched for cross-sectional studies on RHD prevalence in individuals aged 5-20, evaluated through echocardiogram-based screening in endemic areas. Studies relying on auscultation were excluded. RHD was defined

SUBMITTER: Mutarelli A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631635 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature