Update on Diagnosis and Management of Kawasaki Disease: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Kawasaki disease (KD), an acute self-limited febrile illness that primarily affects children <5 years old, is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in developed countries, with the potential of leading to coronary artery dilation and coronary artery aneurysms in 25% of untreated patients. This update summarizes relevant clinical data published since the 2017 American Heart Association scientific statement on KD related to diagnosis, cardiac imaging in acute KD treatment, and long-term management. Criteria defining North American patients at high risk for developing coronary artery aneurysms who may benefit from more intensive initial treatment have been published.

Population-Based Estimates of the Prevalence of Children With Congenital Heart Disease and Associated Comorbidities in the United States.

Background: Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defects and previous estimates report the disease affects 1% of births annually in the United States. To date, CHD prevalence estimates are inconsistent due to varied definitions, data reliant on birth registries, and are geographically limited. These data sources may not be representative of the total prevalence of the CHD population.

Quality of Life in Ugandan Children and Young Adults After Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease: Mixed Methods Approach.

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is a critical issue for patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) but has never been assessed in a low-income country. We conducted a cross-sectional mixed methods study with age-matched healthy siblings serving as controls at the Uganda Heart Institute.

Methods: One-hundred fifteen CHD pediatric and young adult patients and sibling control participants were recruited.

Clinical outcomes of children with rheumatic heart disease.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of children with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Uganda, and determine characteristics that predict adverse outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the risk of death in Ugandan children with clinical RHD from 2010 to 2018; enrolling children aged 5-18 years old from an existing registry. Demographic data and clinical data (baseline complications, RHD severity, cardiac interventions) were collected.

Global, regional, and national time trends in mortality for congenital heart disease, 1990-2019: An age-period-cohort analysis for the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.

Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality from birth defects worldwide. We report an overview of trends in CHD mortality in 204 countries and territories over the past 30 years and associations with age, period, and birth cohort.

Methods: Cause-specific CHD mortality estimates were derived from the Global Burden of Disease 2019 study.

Secondary Antibiotic Prophylaxis for Latent Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Background: Rheumatic heart disease affects more than 40.5 million people worldwide and results in 306,000 deaths annually. Echocardiographic screening detects rheumatic heart disease at an early, latent stage.

Rheumatic Heart Disease in the United States: Forgotten But Not Gone: Results of a 10 Year Multicenter Review.

Background Recent evaluation of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) mortality demonstrates disproportionate disease burden within the United States. However, there are few contemporary data on US children living with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and RHD. Methods and Results Twenty-two US pediatric institutions participated in a 10-year review (2008-2018) of electronic medical records and echocardiographic databases of children 4 to 17 years diagnosed with ARF/RHD to determine demographics, diagnosis, and management.

Determining the Risk of Developing Rheumatic Heart Disease Following a Negative Screening Echocardiogram.

Screening echocardiograms can detect early-stage rheumatic heart disease (RHD), offering a chance to limit progression. Implementation of screening programs is challenging and requires further research. This is the first large-scale study assessing the risk of RHD among previous screen-negative children.

Novel handheld ultrasound technology to enhance non-expert screening for rheumatic heart disease in the Republic of Palau: A descriptive study.

Aim: Non-expert training in rheumatic heart disease (RHD) detection is a valuable strategy in resource-limited settings. Here we present an innovative handheld ultrasound application featuring views of correct probe position, imaging protocol and echocardiographic loops of RHD pathology versus normal, accessible during real-time scanning.

Methods: This prospective study was implemented into a pre-existing school health screening programme at an elementary school in Koror, Palau.

Previous Traditional Medicine Use for Sore Throat among Children Evaluated for Rheumatic Fever in Northern Uganda.

Timely diagnosis of group A streptococcal (GAS) sore throat coupled with appropriate antibiotic treatment is necessary to prevent serious post-streptococcal complications, including rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Traditional medicine (TM) is a known common adjunct to formal medical care in sub-Saharan Africa. A better understanding of health-seeking behavior for sore throat both within and outside the formal medical system is critical to improving primary prevention efforts of RF and RHD.

The inter-rater reliability and individual reviewer performance of the 2012 world heart federation guidelines for the echocardiographic diagnosis of latent rheumatic heart disease.

Background: In 2012, the World Heart Federation (WHF) published guidelines for the echocardiographic diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This study assesses individual reviewer performance and inter-rater agreement and reliability on the presence of any RHD, as well classification of RHD based on the 2012 WHF criteria.

Methods: Four cardiologists individually reviewed echocardiograms in the context of a randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.

The American Heart Association's Call to Action for Reducing the Global Burden of Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects ≈40 million people and claims nearly 300 000 lives each year. The historic passing of a World Health Assembly resolution on RHD in 2018 now mandates a coordinated global response. The American Heart Association is committed to serving as a global champion and leader in RHD care and prevention.

Cross-sectional study of population-specific streptococcal antibody titres in Uganda.

Objective: Despite substantial variation of streptococcal antibody titres among global populations, there is no data on normal values in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to establish normal values for antistreptolysin O (ASO) and antideoxyribonuclease B (ADB) antibodies in Uganda.

Design: This was an observational cross-sectional study.

Congenital heart disease in low-and-middle-income countries: Focus on sub-Saharan Africa.

The etiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) is multifactorial. The birth prevalence of CHD is shaped by a wide variety of maternal, fetal, and neonatal risk factors, along with the rates of prenatal diagnosis and terminations of pregnancy, all of which have geographic variability Epidemiology data availability from low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC) on CHD prevalence, morbidity, and mortality are far more limited than from high income countries. Data on specific genetic, environmental, and prenatal risk associated with CHD are almost nonexistent.