Journal article

Systematic review of rheumatic heart disease prevalence in children in developing countries: The role of environmental factors

AC Steer, JR Carapetis, TM Nolan, F Shann

JOURNAL OF PAEDIATRICS AND CHILD HEALTH | WILEY | Published : 2002

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To consider the worldwide prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in children in developing countries using surveys with uniform methodologies, and to consider the effect of environmental factors including socio-economic status, overcrowding, urbanization, nutrition and access to medical services on the distribution of rheumatic heart disease in developing countries. METHODS: Sixty-one surveys of the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in developing countries were found using a systematic review of MEDLINE from January 1976 to July 1999. Twenty-four studies were selected for comparison based on their uniform methodological and diagnostic techniques. RESULTS: There is a high preva..

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