Global Disparities in Outcomes of Pregnant Individuals With Rheumatic Heart Disease: A Scoping Review

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) remains as 1 of the major contributors to indirect pregnancy-related mortality and morbidity worldwide and disproportionately affects marginalized populations.

In this scoping review, the authors sought to explore the socioeconomic, cultural, and health care access-related causes of global disparities in outcomes of pregnancy among individuals with RHD.

We performed a literature search of all studies published between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2022, that investigated causes for disparate outcomes in pregnant individuals with RHD.

Of the 3,544 articles identified, 16 were included in the final analysis. The key reasons for disparate outcomes included lack of secondary antibiotic RHD prophylaxis; late and more severe RHD diagnosis, differences in management and antenatal care access; lack of expert and coordinated multidisciplinary care; suboptimal patient health education; inadequate access to RHD medication, intervention and surgery in pregnancy; and limited financial and economic resources.

These findings illustrated using a life-course approach demonstrate opportunities for clinical and public health interventions to improve outcomes in this population.