The severe presentation and poor outcomes of rheumatic heart disease in Namibia: Lessons from the REMEDY study Journal Articles uri icon

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abstract

  • Background. This paper reports the baseline characteristics and outcomes of 266 Namibian patients in the Global Registry of Rheumatic Heart Disease.Objective. To describe clinical findings and outcomes in a cohort of children and adults with rheumatic heart disease in Namibia.Methods. Prospective study of all patients with rheumatic heart disease at Windhoek Central Hospital between January 2010 and November 2012.Results. A total of 266 patients were enrolled; median age was 22 years, 72.6% were <30 years old and 60.5% female. The majority (62.8%) had moderate-severe disease; 48.9% were in congestive cardiac failure. Secondary antibiotic prophylaxis was used by 34.2%. Warfarin was used by 75.3% (n=64/85) with clinical indications. Forty-seven (17.6%) had previous valve interventions, of whom 40 (15.0%) had mechanical valve replacements. Over a 2-year follow-up period 19.1% of patients died. Severe valve involvement at enrolment was independently associated with mortality (24.6% v. 5.1% in those without severe disease; hazard ratio 4.9; 95% confidence interval 1.50 - 15.98). Sixty-five (29.8%) of the 218 without previous intervention had valvular intervention after enrolment.Conclusions. In Namibia rheumatic heart disease affects young people who present with severe disease and have a high case fatality rate. Rates of secondary prevention were low. These findings have informed the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Rheumatic Heart Disease in Namibia.

authors

  • Auala, T
  • Zühlke, L
  • Sikwaya, L
  • Du Toit, H
  • Karthikeyan, G
  • Teo, K
  • Yusuf, Salim
  • Engels, ME
  • Mayosi, BM
  • Hugo-Hamman, CT

publication date

  • March 2023