title: Congenital heart disease and rheumatic heart disease in Africa: recent advances and current priorities.
abstract: Africa has one of the highest prevalence of heart diseases in children and young adults, including congenital heart disease (CHD) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We present here an extensive review of recent data from the African continent highlighting key studies and information regarding progress in CHD and RHD since 2005. Main findings include evidence that the CHD burden is underestimated mainly due to the poor outcome of African children with CHD. The interest in primary prevention for RHD has been recently re-emphasised, and new data are available regarding echocardiographic screening for subclinical RHD and initiation of secondary prevention. There is an urgent need for comprehensive service frameworks to improve access and level of care and services for patients, educational programmes to reinforce the importance of prevention and early diagnosis and a relevant research agenda focusing on the African context.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and University of Cape Town, , Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Liesl
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zühlke
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirabel
authors.forename: Eloi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marijon
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration; D003906:Developing Countries; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D011379:Prognosis; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE