Task sharing to improve the prevention, diagnosis and management of rheumatic heart disease: a systematic review protocol.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Abdullahi LH
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5829920 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:IntroductionRheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a preventable chronic condition affecting the valves of the heart. RHD prevention and care programmes have historically originated in more developed countries, implemented in a targeted (or vertical) manner and evaluated using non-controlled approaches. Taking a broad view of the integration of RHD activities within the whole system is critical for health planning in low-income regions with a high burden of RHD and less robust health systems. Therefore, we propose to conduct a systematic review to assess RHD programme models in order to gain a better understanding of the extent of integration within relevant health systems.Methods and analysisA predefined search strategy will be used to search for relevant articles published in English from January 1990 to December 2017. Electronic databases PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Africa Wide, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar and Global Index Medicus will be searched, as well as reference lists of relevant articles published. A standardised data extraction form will be used to obtain information for analysis from the included studies. The quality, reliability and risk of bias of included studies will be assessed using design-specific criteria. Programme integration will be analysed according to stewardship and governance, financing, planning, service delivery, monitoring and evaluation, and demand generation. Programme inputs, outputs and impact will also be described.Ethics and disseminationNo ethical approval is required. Findings will be disseminated in a peer-review journal in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Prospero registration numberCRD42017076307.
| S-EPMC6596984 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Background: Task sharing of TTE may improve capacity for heart failure diagnosis and management in patients in remote, low-resource settings but the impact on diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes has not been studied.Objectives: Determine feasibility and impact of non-expert training in transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) to improve the diagnosis and outcomes of patients with suspected heart failure in Uganda.Methods: This two-part study examined an innovative training program to develop TTE competency among non-experts and used a pre-post design to determine the impact of decentralized TTE. Four of 8 non-experts (50%) passed a three-part training course. The training comprised of distance learning through a web-based curriculum, a 2-day hands-on workshop with cardiologists, and independent practice with remote mentorship. Continuous measures were compared (pre- vs. post-TTE) using t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests as distributionally appropriate and categorical variables assessed through chi-square testing. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated according to standard methodology comparing diagnosis pre- and post-TTE during phase 2.Results: Performance in the post-training phase showed good agreement with expert categorization (? = 0.80) with diagnostic concordance in 421 of 454 studies (92.7%). TTE changed the preliminary diagnosis in 81% of patients, showing low specificity of clinical decision-making alone (14.2%; 95% CI 10.1-19.2%). Dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease with preserved systolic function, and right heart failure were the most underdiagnosed conditions prior to TTE while hypertensive heart disease with decreased systolic function was the most over-diagnosed condition.Conclusions: In conclusion, non-expert providers can achieve a high level of proficiency for the categorization of heart failure using handheld TTE in low-resource settings and use of telemedicine and remote mentorship may improve performance and feasibility. The addition of TTE resulted in substantial improvement in etiological specificity. Further study is needed to understand implications of this strategy on healthcare utilization, long-term patient outcomes, and cost.
| S-EPMC6844369 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundRheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains a major health concern for Aboriginal Australians. A key component of RHD control is prevention of recurrent acute rheumatic fever (ARF) using long-term secondary prophylaxis with intramuscular benzathine penicillin (BPG). This is the most important and cost-effective step in RHD control. However, there are significant challenges to effective implementation of secondary prophylaxis programs. This project aimed to increase understanding and improve quality of RHD care through development and implementation of a continuous quality improvement (CQI) strategy.MethodsWe used a CQI strategy to promote implementation of national best-practice ARF/RHD management guidelines at primary health care level in Indigenous communities of the Northern Territory (NT), Australia, 2008-2010. Participatory action research methods were employed to identify system barriers to delivery of high quality care. This entailed facilitated discussion with primary care staff aided by a system assessment tool (SAT). Participants were encouraged to develop and implement strategies to overcome identified barriers, including better record-keeping, triage systems and strategies for patient follow-up. To assess performance, clinical records were audited at baseline, then annually for two years. Key performance indicators included proportion of people receiving adequate secondary prophylaxis (?80% of scheduled 4-weekly penicillin injections) and quality of documentation.ResultsSix health centres participated, servicing approximately 154 people with ARF/RHD. Improvements occurred in indicators of service delivery including proportion of people receiving ?40% of their scheduled BPG (increasing from 81/116 [70%] at baseline to 84/103 [82%] in year three, p?=?0.04), proportion of people reviewed by a doctor within the past two years (112/154 [73%] and 134/156 [86%], p?=?0.003), and proportion of people who received influenza vaccination (57/154 [37%] to 86/156 [55%], p?=?0.001). However, the proportion receiving ?80% of scheduled BPG did not change. Documentation in medical files improved: ARF episode documentation increased from 31/55 (56%) to 50/62 (81%) (p?=?0.004), and RHD risk category documentation from 87/154 (56%) to 103/145 (76%) (p?<?0.001). Large differences in performance were noted between health centres, reflected to some extent in SAT scores.ConclusionsA CQI process using a systems approach and participatory action research methodology can significantly improve delivery of ARF/RHD care.
| S-EPMC3878366 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a chronic disease affecting the heart valves, secondary to group A streptococcal infection (GAS) and subsequent acute rheumatic fever (ARF). However, RHD cure and preventative measures are inextricably linked with socioeconomic development, as the disease mainly affects children and young adults living in poverty. In order to address RHD, public health officials and health policymakers require up-to-date knowledge on the epidemiology of GAS, ARF and RHD, as well as the existing enablers and gaps in delivery of evidence-based care for these conditions. We propose to conduct a systematic review to assess the literature comprehensively, synthesising all existing quantitative and qualitative data relating to RHD in Africa.We plan to conduct a comprehensive literature search using a number of databases and reference lists of relevant articles published from January 1995 to December 2015. Two evaluators will independently review and extract data from each article. Additionally, we will assess overall study quality and risk of bias, using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme criteria for quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively. We will meta-analyse estimates of prevalence, incidence, case fatality and mortality for each of the conditions separately for each country. Qualitative meta-analysis will be conducted for facilitators and barriers in RHD health access. Lastly, we will create a list of key stakeholders. This protocol is registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of systematic reviews, registration number CRD42016032852.The information provided by this review will inform and assist relevant stakeholders in identifying key areas of intervention, and designing and implementing evidence-based programmes and policies at the local and regional level. With slight modifications (ie, to the country terms in the search strategy), this protocol can be used as part of a needs assessment in any endemic country.
| S-EPMC4885440 | biostudies-other
Project description:Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) as a chronic sequela of repeated episodes of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), remains a cause of cardiac morbidity in Egypt although it is given full attention through a national RHD prevention and control program. The present report reviews our experience with subjects presenting with ARF or its sequelae in a single RHD centre and describes the disease pattern over the last decade. A cross-sectional study was conducted in El-Mahalla RHD centre between 2006 and 2018. A total of 17014 individual were enrolled and evaluated. Diagnosis ARF was based on the 2015 revised Jones criteria and RHD was ruled in by echocardiography. The majority of the screened subjects were female (63.2%), in the age group 5-15 years (64.6%), rural residents (61.2%), had primary education (43.0%), and of low socioeconomic standard (50.2%). The total percentage of cases presenting with ARF sequelae was 29.3% [carditis/RHD (10.8%), rheumatic arthritis (Rh.A) (14.9%), and Sydenham's chorea (0.05%)]. Noticeably, 72% were free of any cardiac insult, of which 37.7% were victims of misdiagnoses made elsewhere by untrained practitioners who prescribed for them long term injectable long-acting penicillin [Benzathine Penicillin G (BPG)] without need. About 54% of the study cohort reported the occurrence of recurrent attacks of tonsillitis of which 65.2% underwent tonsillectomy. Among those who experienced tonsillectomy and/or received BPG in the past, 14.5% and 22.3% respectively had eventually developed RHD. Screening of family members of some RHD cases who needed cardiac surgery revealed 20.7% with undiagnosed ARF sequalae [RHD (56.0%) and Rh.A (52.2%)]. Upon the follow-up of RHD cases, 1.2% had improved, 98.4% were stable and 0.4% had their heart condition deteriorated. Misdiagnosis of ARF or its sequelae and poor compliance with BPG use may affect efforts being exerted to curtail the disease. Updating national guidelines, capacity building, and reliance on appropriate investigations should be emphasized. Since the genetic basis of RHD is literally confirmed, a family history of RHD warrants screening of all family members for early detection of the disease.
| S-EPMC7451991 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the only preventable cardiovascular disease which causes significant morbidity and mortality particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Early clinical diagnosis is key, the updated Jones criteria increases the likelihood of diagnosis in endemic settings, including the echo diagnosis of sub-clinical carditis, polyarthralgia and monoarthritis as well as amended thresholds of minor criteria. The mainstay of rheumatic heart valve disease (RHVD) is a thorough clinical and echocardiographic investigation while severe disease is managed with medical, interventional and surgical treatment. In this report we detail some of the more recent epidemiological findings and focus on the diagnostic and interventional elements of the specific valve lesions. Finally, we discuss some of the recent efforts to improve medical and surgical management for this disease. As we are already more than a year from the historic 2018 World Heart Organization Resolution against Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease, we advocate strongly for renewed efforts to prioritize this disease across the endemic regions of the world.
| S-EPMC7225445 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundRheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the principal cause of acquired heart disease affecting people living largely in poverty and deprived conditions. Sub-Saharan Africa was long thought to be the hotspot of the disease but recent reports suggest that this is no longer the case. South Africa is the leading economic force within this region yet contends with continued extreme income disparities. It is of interest to ascertain whether the strides that have been made in healthcare since the democratic transition in South Africa have translated into decreased RHD burden. We therefore propose to review the current best estimates of incidence of newly diagnosed RHD and prevalence of existing RHD within the past two decades. We also propose to characterise the fatal and non-fatal outcomes of RHD and identify any trends in this period.Methods and designWe plan to search electronic databases and reference lists of relevant articles published from April 1994 to April 2014. Studies will be included if they estimated one of the following epidemiological measures: incidence, prevalence, remission rate, relative risk of mortality or cause-specific mortality. For studies deemed eligible for inclusion, we will assess overall study quality, reliability and risk of bias using design-specific criteria. We will extract data using a standardised form and perform descriptive and quantitative analysis to assess RHD prevalence, mortality and morbidity. This review protocol is registered in the PROSPERO International Prospective Register of systematic reviews, registration number CRD42014007072.DisseminationOur planned review will provide healthcare providers, public health officials and policymakers with pooled contemporary data regarding RHD, in particular regarding the effect the new political dispensation has had on the burden of this preventable disease within South Africa. In addition, these important country-specific data could influence policy decisions regarding prevention, management and control of RHD.
| S-EPMC4067809 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Aims Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a major contributor to cardiac morbidity and mortality globally. This study aims to estimate the probability and predictors of progressing to non-fatal cardiovascular complications and death in young Australians after their first RHD diagnosis.Methods and results This retrospective cohort study used linked RHD register, hospital, and death data from five Australian states and territories (covering 70% of the whole population and 86% of the Indigenous population). Progression from uncomplicated RHD to all-cause death and non-fatal cardiovascular complications (surgical intervention, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, infective endocarditis, and stroke) was estimated for people aged <35 years with first-ever RHD diagnosis between 2010 and 2018, identified from register and hospital data. The study cohort comprised 1718 initially uncomplicated RHD cases (84.6% Indigenous; 10.9% migrant; 63.2% women; 40.3% aged 5-14 years; 76.4% non-metropolitan). The composite outcome of death/cardiovascular complication was experienced by 23.3% (95% confidence interval: 19.5-26.9) within 8 years. Older age and metropolitan residence were independent positive predictors of the composite outcome; history of acute rheumatic fever was a negative predictor. Population group (Indigenous/migrant/other Australian) and sex were not predictive of outcome after multivariable adjustment.Conclusion This study provides the most definitive and contemporary estimates of progression to major cardiovascular complication or death in young Australians with RHD. Despite access to the publically funded universal Australian healthcare system, one-fifth of initially uncomplicated RHD cases will experience one of the major complications of RHD within 8 years supporting the need for programmes to eradicate RHD.
| S-EPMC9242034 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundLow- and middle-income countries (LMICs) bear a disproportionately higher burden of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Team-based care approach adds capacity to improve blood pressure (BP) control. This updated review aimed to test team-based care efficacy at different levels of hypertension team-based care complexity.MethodsWe searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and CINAHL for newer articles on task-sharing interventions to manage hypertension in LMICs. Levels of tasks complexity performed by healthcare workers added to the clinical team in hypertension control programs were categorized as administrative tasks (level 1), basic clinical tasks (level 2), and/or advanced clinical tasks (level 3). Meta-analysis using an inverse variance weighted random-effects model summarized trial-based evidence on the efficacy of team-based care on BP control, compared with usual care.FindingsForty-three RCT articles were included in the meta-analysis: 31 studies from the previous systematic review, 12 articles from the updated search. The pooled mean effect for team-based care was a -4.6 mm Hg (95% CI: -5.8, -3.4, I2 = 80.2%) decrease in systolic BP compared with usual care. We found similar comparative reduction among different levels of team-based care complexity, i.e., administrative and basic clinical tasks (-4.7 mm Hg, 95% CI: -6.8, -2.2; I2 = 79.8%); and advanced clinical tasks (-4.5 mmHg, 95%CI: -6.1, -3.3; I2 = 81%). Systolic BP was reduced most by team-based care involving pharmacists (-7.3 mm Hg, 95% CI: -9.2, -5.4; I2 = 67.2%); followed by nurses (-5.1 mm Hg, 95% CI: -8.0, -2.2; I2 = 72.7%), dieticians (-4.7 mmHg, 95%CI: -7.1, -2.3; I2 = 0.0%), then community health workers (-3.3 mm Hg, 95% CI: -4.8, -1.8; I2 = 77.3%).InterpretationOverall, team-based hypertension care interventions consistently contributed to lower systolic BP compared to usual care; the effect size varies by the clinical training of the healthcare team members.FundingResolve To Save Lives (RTSL) Vital Strategies, Danielle Cazabon, Andrew E. Moran, Yvonne Commodore-Mensah receive salary support from Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies. Resolve to Save Lives is jointly supported by grants from Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gates Philanthropy Partners, which is funded with support from the Chan Zuckerberg Foundation.
| S-EPMC9035722 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundUntreated streptococcal pharyngitis is a precursor to rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and remains a significant public health issue in many countries. Understanding local determinants of treatment-seeking behaviors can help tailor RHD prevention programs.ObjectiveWe sought to elicit perceptions of pharyngitis and related healthcare use in a range of communities in Uganda.MethodsWe conducted six focus group discussions (FGD) in three districts that were representative of the country's socioeconomic and cultural heterogenetity. Participants were recruited from six villages (two per district), and FGDs were audio recorded, transcribed and translated into English. Deductive and inductive analysis of the transcripts was done via open axial and sequential coding, which informed development of clusters, themes and subthemes. We extracted quotations from the transcripts to illustrate these themes.ResultsWe identified nine key themes in three major domains: knowledge and perception of pharyngits, treatment practices, and barriers to uptake of formal public-sector healthcare services. Community awareness and understanding of the consequences of pharyngitis were low. Stated barriers to care were usually systemic in nature and included low overall confidence in the healthcare system and substantial costs associated with transportation and medications.ConclusionThe FGDs identified several approaches to shape community perceptions of pharyngitis and improve utilization of interventions to prevent RHD. In Uganda, information-education-communication interventions probably need to be combined with structural interventions that make formal public-sector healthcare more accessible to at-risk populations.
| S-EPMC8782090 | biostudies-literature