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Review
. 2023 Oct 13;9(1):16.
doi: 10.1186/s40794-023-00192-y.

The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hiwot Berhanu  1 , Yimer Mekonnen  2 , Abdulhalik Workicho  3 , Kalkidan Hassen  4 , Zenebe Negeri  5 , Morankar Sudhakar  6 , Shimelis Mitiku  5 , Andualem Mossie  5
Affiliations
Review

The prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Hiwot Berhanu et al. Trop Dis Travel Med Vaccines. .

Abstract

Globally, more than 33 million people are living with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). A high prevalence of the disease is observed in people with poor socio-economic status, overcrowding, and low access to medical facilities. Even though different studies have been conducted in different settings, there is no reliable data regarding RHD prevalence. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the pooled prevalence of RHD in Ethiopia. PubMed/Medline, SCOPUS, HINARI, and Google Scholar databases were used to search for peer-reviewed articles. Articles published in English between the years 1992 and 2022 September were considered. The pooled prevalence of RHD was calculated using a random-effect model at a 95% confidence interval, including the weight of each study. Finally, statistical meta-analysis STATA version 16.0 software was used to calculate the pooled prevalence of RHD.A total of twelve cross-sectional studies were included in the meta-analysis. Individual study prevalence ranges from 0.32 to 32.78%. The pooled prevalence of RHD was 3.19% (95% CI: 1.46-5.56%). The prevalence was higher among the population who visited hospitals at 5.42% (95% CI: 1.09-12.7%) compared to schoolchildren at 0.73% (95% CI: 0.30-1.34%) and community-based studies at 3.83% (95% CI: 3.16-4.55%). Addis Ababa had the lowest prevalence of RHD (0.75% (95% CI: 0.38-1.25%), whereas the highest prevalence was observed in the Amhara region (8.95% (95% CI: 7.21-11.06%). A significant variation in the overall estimated prevalence of RHD was not observed between males and females.Trial registration Protocol registration (PROSPERO): CRD42021251553, Date of registration May 28 2021.

Keywords: Echocardiography; Ethiopia; Prevalence; Rheumatic heart disease.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA flow chart for identifications of studies included in systematic review and meta-analysis on prevalence of rheumatic heart diseases in Ethiopia
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Funnel plot for assessment of publication bias across studies
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Forest plot on studies that quantitatively assessed pooled prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in Ethiopia
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Subgroup analysis on the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among different study settings
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Subgroup analysis on the prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among different regions of Ethiopia
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Prevalence of rheumatic heart disease among males (a) and females (b) in Ethiopia
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Trends of rheumatic heart disease prevalence by year of publication in Ethiopia
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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