Current prevalence trend of rheumatic heart disease in South Asia: a systematic review

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a chronic cardiovascular disease that has almost been eradicated from developed countries but still exists in developing regions like South Asia. However, the prevalence of RHD in the South Asian region has not been reported as a whole. The aim of our study was to systematically review the existing data from population-based studies in this region to determine the current prevalence trend of RHD in South Asia. In this systematic review, electronic databases including Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and the national journal databases of the South Asian region were searched to find relevant articles published between 1991 to 2019 based on predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Twenty-five population-based studies were included from four South Asian countries (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Nepal). The findings of the included studies showed a decreasing trend of RHD in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, whereas an increasing trend of RHD was observed in Nepal. The prevalence of RHD was higher in rural areas compared to urban areas. This systematic review thus reveals a decreasing trend of RHD in most South Asian countries in the last decade. The findings of this study will help public health leaders understand the current scenario of RHD in the South Asian region.