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Rheumatic Fever Programme in Samoa

Satupaitea Viali1, Puleiala Saena, Vailogoua Futi

  • 1Medical Specialist Clinic, PO Box 2122, Apia, Samoa. satu.viali@gmail.com

The New Zealand Medical Journal
|April 9, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Samoa

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Cardiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) are prevalent in Samoa.
  • The Rheumatic Fever Programme in Samoa aims to reduce the incidence of these conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the Rheumatic Fever Programme in Samoa.
  • To analyze the incidence trends of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and RHD.
  • To explore cost-effective strategies for RHD management.

Main Methods:

  • The study describes the implementation of the Rheumatic Fever Programme.
  • Incidence data for ARF and RHD were collected and analyzed.
  • Cost-effectiveness of cardiac surgery in Samoa versus New Zealand was considered.

Main Results:

  • Incidence of ARF decreased from 30 per 100,000 in 2005 to 9.5 per 100,000 in 2009.
  • Incidence of RHD decreased from 40.2 per 100,000 in 2007 to 31.8 per 100,000 in 2009.
  • Cardiac surgery is more affordable in Samoa than in New Zealand.

Conclusions:

  • The Rheumatic Fever Programme has shown a positive impact on reducing ARF and RHD incidence in Samoa.
  • School-based RHD screening using echocardiography is proposed as a key strategy for reducing disease burden.

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