BackgroundConsidering the limited accuracy of clinical examination for early diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD), echocardiography has emerged as an important epidemiological tool. The ideal setting for screening is yet to be defined. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and pattern of latent RHD in schoolchildren (aged 5–18 years) and to compare effectiveness of screening between public schools, private schools, and primary care centers in Minas Gerais, Brazil.Methods and ResultsThe PROVAR (Rheumatic Valve Disease Screening Program) study uses nonexperts and portable and handheld devices for RHD echocardiographic screening, with remote interpretation by telemedicine, according to the 2012 World Heart Federation criteria. Compliance with study consent and prevalence were compared between different screening settings, and variables associated with RHD were analyzed. In 26 months, 12 048 students were screened in 52 public schools (n=10 901), 2 private schools (n=589), and 3 primary care centers (n=558). Median age was 12.9 years, and 55.4% were girls. Overall RHD prevalence was 4.0% borderline (n=486) and 0.5% definite (n=63), with statistically similar rates between public schools (4.6%), private schools (3.5%), and primary care centers (4.8%) (P=0.24). The percentage of informed consents signed was higher in primary care centers (84.4%) and private schools (66.9%) compared with public schools (38.7%) (P<0.001). Prevalence was higher in children ≥12 years (5.3% versus 3.1%; P<0.001) and girls (4.9% versus 4.0%; P=0.02). Only age (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.17; P<0.001) was independently associated with RHD.Conclusions
RHD screening in primary care centers seems to achieve higher coverage rates. Prevalence among schoolchildren is significantly high, with rates higher than expected in private schools of high‐income areas. These data are important for the formulation of public policies to confront RHD.
ObjectivesEchocardiographic (echo) screening is an important tool to estimate rheumatic heart disease (RHD) prevalence, but the natural history of screen-detected RHD remains unclear. The PROVAR+ (Programa de RastreamentO da VAlvopatia Reumática) study, which uses non-experts, telemedicine and portable echo, pioneered RHD screening in Brazil. We aimed to assess the mid-term evolution of Brazilian schoolchildren (5–18 years) with echocardiography-detected subclinical RHD and to assess the performance of a simplified score consisting of five components of the World Heart Federation criteria, as a predictor of unfavourable echo outcomes.SettingPublic schools of underserved areas and private schools in Minas Gerais, southeast Brazil.ParticipantsA total of 197 patients (170 borderline and 27 definite RHD) with follow-up of 29±9 months were included. Median age was 14 (12–16) years, and 130 (66%) were woman. Only four patients in the definite group were regularly receiving penicillin.Primary and secondary outcome measuresUnfavourable outcome was based on the 2-year follow-up echo, defined as worsening diagnostic category, remaining with mild definite RHD or development/worsening of valve regurgitation/stenosis.ResultsAmong patients with borderline RHD, 29 (17.1%) progressed to definite, 49 (28.8%) remained stable, 86 (50.6%) regressed to normal and 6 (3.5%) were reclassified as other heart diseases. Among those with definite RHD, 13 (48.1%) remained in the category, while 5 (18.5%) regressed to borderline, 5 (18.5%) regressed to normal and 4 (14.8%) were reclassified as other heart diseases. The simplified echo score was a significant predictor of RHD unfavourable outcome (HR 1.197, 95% CI 1.098 to 1.305, p<0.001).ConclusionThe simple risk score provided an accurate prediction of RHD status at 2-year follow-up, showing a good performance in Brazilian schoolchildren, with a potential value for risk stratification and monitoring of echocardiography-detected RHD.
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