Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban Schools
Background: Rheumatic heart disease is a post-infectious sequelae of acute rheumatic fever resulting from an abnormal immune response to streptococcal pharyngitis that triggers valvular damage. It is the most commonly acquired heart disease in children, particularly in developing countries. Objectiv...
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Ubiquity Press
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Global Heart |
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| Online Access: | https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1414 |
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| author | Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio Anicet Gakdang Ladibe Joël Marie Obama Nyaga Sandrine Laure Ngambono Loic Alban Tasong Jules Thierry Elong Hursul Geffried Nzongang Félicité Kamdem David Chelo |
| author_facet | Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio Anicet Gakdang Ladibe Joël Marie Obama Nyaga Sandrine Laure Ngambono Loic Alban Tasong Jules Thierry Elong Hursul Geffried Nzongang Félicité Kamdem David Chelo |
| author_sort | Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Rheumatic heart disease is a post-infectious sequelae of acute rheumatic fever resulting from an abnormal immune response to streptococcal pharyngitis that triggers valvular damage. It is the most commonly acquired heart disease in children, particularly in developing countries. Objective: This study aimed to describe rheumatic valvulopathy among schoolchildren and adolescents in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional echocardiography study was conducted from December 2022 to May 2023 among students aged 5 to 19 in primary and secondary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon. All students with informed parental consent and who agreed to participate in the study were included. The data collected were entered and analysed using SPSS statistics software version 23.0. The association between the qualitative variables was verified using Odd-Ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of 5%. Results: Of the 1020 children recruited, 133 (13.03%) had rheumatic heart disease with a mean age of 11.69 ± 4.09 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.56. Most of the participants lived in urban slums (60.9%). Cardiac murmurs were detected in 23 (17.3%) participants during auscultation, with the majority (78.3%) being located at the mitral focus. The definitive form of rheumatic heart disease was observed in 69 (51.9%) children. Mitral involvement was observed in all participants. Mitral valve abnormalities were primarily characterized by mitral insufficiency in 124 (93.2%) participants, valvular thickening (74.4%), and restriction of movement (42.9%). Age between 10 and 14 years [OR = 2.36; CI = (1.11–5.01)] and residence in urban slums [OR = 2.14; CI = (1.05–4.36)] were significantly associated with an increase in the occurrence of definitive rheumatic valve disease. Conclusion: Rheumatic heart disease is common among schoolchildren in this setting. It systematically affects the mitral valve. The clinical presentation is usually silent at first. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bba2bed7e4ad4c1d842e6d1b8b98d11a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2211-8179 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Ubiquity Press |
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| series | Global Heart |
| spelling | doaj-art-bba2bed7e4ad4c1d842e6d1b8b98d11a2025-08-20T03:10:35ZengUbiquity PressGlobal Heart2211-81792025-03-01201363610.5334/gh.14141395Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban SchoolsChris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8995-5038Anicet Gakdang Ladibe1Joël Marie Obama Nyaga2Sandrine Laure Ngambono3Loic Alban Tasong4https://orcid.org/0009-0006-5045-0925Jules Thierry Elong5https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1533-0228Hursul Geffried Nzongang6Félicité Kamdem7https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9599-0419David Chelo8https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2265-9928Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences of the University of Yaoundé 1Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, YaoundéFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, YaoundéFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, YaoundéFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, YaoundéFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, YaoundéFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, YaoundéFaculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, DoualaFaculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, YaoundéBackground: Rheumatic heart disease is a post-infectious sequelae of acute rheumatic fever resulting from an abnormal immune response to streptococcal pharyngitis that triggers valvular damage. It is the most commonly acquired heart disease in children, particularly in developing countries. Objective: This study aimed to describe rheumatic valvulopathy among schoolchildren and adolescents in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods: A cross-sectional echocardiography study was conducted from December 2022 to May 2023 among students aged 5 to 19 in primary and secondary schools in Yaoundé, Cameroon. All students with informed parental consent and who agreed to participate in the study were included. The data collected were entered and analysed using SPSS statistics software version 23.0. The association between the qualitative variables was verified using Odd-Ratio with a 95% confidence interval and a significance level of 5%. Results: Of the 1020 children recruited, 133 (13.03%) had rheumatic heart disease with a mean age of 11.69 ± 4.09 years. The sex ratio (M/F) was 0.56. Most of the participants lived in urban slums (60.9%). Cardiac murmurs were detected in 23 (17.3%) participants during auscultation, with the majority (78.3%) being located at the mitral focus. The definitive form of rheumatic heart disease was observed in 69 (51.9%) children. Mitral involvement was observed in all participants. Mitral valve abnormalities were primarily characterized by mitral insufficiency in 124 (93.2%) participants, valvular thickening (74.4%), and restriction of movement (42.9%). Age between 10 and 14 years [OR = 2.36; CI = (1.11–5.01)] and residence in urban slums [OR = 2.14; CI = (1.05–4.36)] were significantly associated with an increase in the occurrence of definitive rheumatic valve disease. Conclusion: Rheumatic heart disease is common among schoolchildren in this setting. It systematically affects the mitral valve. The clinical presentation is usually silent at first.https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1414rheumatic valvulopathychildrenyaoundé-cameroon |
| spellingShingle | Chris Nadège Nganou-Gnindjio Anicet Gakdang Ladibe Joël Marie Obama Nyaga Sandrine Laure Ngambono Loic Alban Tasong Jules Thierry Elong Hursul Geffried Nzongang Félicité Kamdem David Chelo Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban Schools Global Heart rheumatic valvulopathy children yaoundé-cameroon |
| title | Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban Schools |
| title_full | Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban Schools |
| title_fullStr | Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban Schools |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban Schools |
| title_short | Rheumatic Valvulopathy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Cross-Sectional Study of Cameroonian Urban Schools |
| title_sort | rheumatic valvulopathy in sub saharan africa a cross sectional study of cameroonian urban schools |
| topic | rheumatic valvulopathy children yaoundé-cameroon |
| url | https://account.globalheartjournal.com/index.php/up-j-gh/article/view/1414 |
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