Screening for rheumatic heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Rheumatic heart disease is preventable but causes significant morbidity and mortality in Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander populations. Screening echocardiography has the potential to detect early rheumatic heart disease thereby enabling timely commencement of treatment (secondary prophylaxis) to halt disease progression. However, a number of issues prevent echocardiographic screening for rheumatic heart disease satisfying the Australian criteria for acceptable screening programs.

Patient and health-care impact of a pilot rheumatic heart disease screening program.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a pilot screening program for rheumatic heart disease (RHD) on patient quality of life (QOL) and health services.

Methods: A QOL questionnaire (CHQ-PF28) was used to assess the impact of RHD screening on children with a potentially abnormal screening echocardiogram and matched normal controls. The health service response to a potentially abnormal screening echocardiogram and the impact of the screening program on health services was evaluated using medical record review, carer interviews and surveys of health-care providers.