Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Latin America: a contemporary review of epidemiology

Abstract

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a significant public health challenge in Latin America, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations despite global declines in disease prevalence and mortality. It is known that RHD affects over 55 million individuals worldwide, accounting for more than 390,000 deaths annually. However, region specific RHD epidemiologic data are scarce, and most clinical studies on RHD epidemiology date back to the 1990s. On the other hand, the emergence of echocardiographic screening initiatives in the last decade reinforced the burden of the disease, revealing alarming rates of subclinical RHD in Latin American schoolchildren and young adults. This comprehensive review focused on epidemiologic data on RHD from Latin America and highlighted subgroups at highest risk for the disease.