Authors:
Ledos PH, Kamblock J, Bourgoin P, Eono P, Carapetis JR
Authors notes:
Archives of Cardiovascular Diseases. 2014;Online:1-7
Keywords:
Adult, Echocardiography, Public health, Rheumatic heart disease, Screening
Abstract:
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an important public health issue, particularly in the Pacific region, but its true burden is unknown.
The objective was to evaluate the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in young adults from New Caledonia, based on echocardiography, and to evaluate the accuracy of dynamic criteria, focusing on mitral valve (MV) leaflet motion.
There were 834 subjects from three socioeconomic groups, aged 18-22 years: 699 had normal echocardiography; 93 (11.5%) had physiological regurgitation; nine (0.9%) had borderline RHD; and five (0.59%) had RHD.
The prevalence of RHD in New Caledonia was thus estimated at 5.9 per 1000.
The RHD cases were of Pacific ethnicity.
Physiological regurgitation was more frequent in Pacific subjects (13.7%) than in non-Pacific subjects.
RHD was more prevalent in the lowest socioeconomic group.
No disagreement occurred between the three reviewers concerning analysis of dynamic criteria; all disagreements were related to morphological criteria.
The prevalence of echocardiographically diagnosed RHD in adults in New Caledonia is estimated at 5.9 per 1000; it occurs most frequently in Pacific subjects and those with low incomes.
Dynamic criteria were more accurate and reproducible than standard morphological criteria.