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Review
. 2024 Feb 28;86(4):2116-2123.
doi: 10.1097/MS9.0000000000001833. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Adherence to penicillin treatment is essential for effective secondary prevention of rheumatic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ade M Ambari  1   2 , Basuni Radi  1   2 , Bambang Dwiputra  1   2 , Dean Arityanti  1 , Thomas Rikl  1   2 , Maria P Inggriani  1 , Faqrizal Ria Qhabibi  1 , Eliana Susilowati  1 , Indira Kalyana Makes  1 , Estu Rudiktyo  1   2 , Maarten J Cramer  3 , Pieter Doevendans  3   4 , Budhi Setianto  1   2 , Anwar Santoso  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Adherence to penicillin treatment is essential for effective secondary prevention of rheumatic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Ade M Ambari et al. Ann Med Surg (Lond). .

Abstract

Background: Penicillin is essential for secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). However, the incidences of ARF recurrence and RHD progression remain high, particularly in endemic countries. This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of penicillin adherence in secondary prevention of ARF recurrence and RHD progression.

Methods: The authors included original articles employing an observational study design in which the study population included patients with ARF or RHD and documented adherence to secondary prophylaxis with penicillin for secondary prevention. Systematic searches of the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were performed. Moreover, the authors also conducted a snowballing literature search from Europe PMC to expand the included studies. The quality of each study was assessed using the National Institute of Health Quality Assessment Tool. The statistical analyses were conducted using Review Manager 5.4.1 software developed by Cochrane. In addition, the authors utilized pooled odds ratios (ORs) to compare the adherence techniques.

Results: A total of 310 studies were identified, of which 57 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility. The authors included six studies with 1364 patients for the qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. Good adherence to penicillin for the secondary prophylaxis of ARF and RHD, significantly reduced the odds of ARF recurrence or RHD progression by up to 71% compared to that associated with poor adherence [pooled OR 0.29 (0.21-0.40); I²=0% (p=0.56); Z=7.64 (p <0.00001)].

Conclusion: Good adherence to penicillin for secondary prophylaxis in patients with ARF or RHD is essential for reducing the risk of ARF recurrence or RHD progression.

Keywords: acute rheumatic fever; adherence; penicillin; rheumatic heart disease; secondary prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 Study Flow Diagram.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot on good adherence to penicillin as secondary prevention of acute rheumatic fever recurrence and rheumatic heart disease progression.
Figure 3
Figure 3
DOI plot analysis.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Forest plot of the leave-one-out method for sensitivity analysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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