Prevalence of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in rural population of Himachal--a population based study.

PURPOSE OF STUDY Rheumatic heart disease is still the commonest valvular heart disease in India. There is no population based study regarding the prevalence of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease (RF/RHD) from Himachal and hence the purpose of study. METHODS AND RESULTS A community based survey for prevalence of RF/RHD was done in four villages of different districts of Himachal. The subjects suspected to have RF/RHD on clinical ground were subjected to echocardiography to confirm the diagnosis. Total 1882 subjects were screened. 909 were male and 973 were female. 11 of these were found to have RF/RHD (5.8/1000). Mean age of these patients was 30.35 +/- 14.17 years. 10 of these were female and one was male. Mitral valve was the commonest to be involved. Seven were known to have RF/ RHD and five were on penicillin prophylaxis. CONCLUSION RF/RHD is still common in rural population of Himachal. Mitral valve is commonest to be involved and prevalence is much more in female than in male.