The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hiwot Berhanu; Yimer Mekonnen; Abdulhalik Workicho; Kalkidan Hassen; Zenebe Negeri; Morankar Sudhakar; Shimelis Mitiku; Andualem Mossie

doi:10.1186/s40794-023-00192-y

The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines. 2023 Oct 13;9(1):16. doi: 10.1186/s40794-023-00192-y.

Authors

Hiwot Berhanu¹, Yimer Mekonnen², Abdulhalik Workicho³, Kalkidan Hassen⁴, Zenebe Negeri⁵, Morankar Sudhakar⁶, Shimelis Mitiku⁵, Andualem Mossie⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Science, Jimma Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia. hiwed2010@gmail.com.
² Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jimma Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Epidemiology, Institute of Health, Jimma University, P.O.Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
⁵ Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Science, Jimma Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.
⁶ Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Faculty of Public Health, Ethiopian Evidence Based Health Care CenterInstitute of HealthJimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Globally, more than 33 million people are living with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). A high prevalence of the disease is observed in people with poor socio-economic status, overcrowding, and low access to medical facilities. Even though different studies have been conducted in different settings, there is no reliable data regarding RHD prevalence. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of RHD in Ethiopia. PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, HINARI, and Google Scholar databases were used to search for peer-reviewed articles. Articles published in English between the years 1992 and 2022 September were considered. The pooled prevalence of RHD was calculated using a random-effect model at a 95% confidence interval, including the weight of each study. Finally, statistical meta-analysis STATA version 16.0 software was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of RHD.A total of twelve cross-sectional studies were included in the meta-analysis. Individual study prevalence ranges from 0.32 to 32.78%. The pooled prevalence of RHD was 3.19% (95% CI: 1.46-5.56%). The prevalence was higher among the population who visited hospitals at 5.42% (95% CI: 1.09-12.7%) compared to schoolchildren at 0.73% (95% CI: 0.30-1.34%) and community-based studies at 3.83% (95% CI: 3.16-4.55%). Addis Ababa had the lowest prevalence of RHD (0.75% (95% CI: 0.38-1.25%), whereas the highest prevalence was observed in the Amhara region (8.95% (95% CI: 7.21-11.06%). A significant variation in the overall estimated prevalence of RHD was not observed between males and females.Trial registration Protocol registration (PROSPERO): CRD42021251553, Date of registration May 28 2021.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Ethiopia; Prevalence; Rheumatic heart disease.

Publication types

Review