Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) almost disappeared in western Europe and north America due to improved living standards and to widespread use of antibiotics. However, phenomena such as migration and globalization may reintroduce RHD in these regions. In developing continents like Africa and Asia RHD is still an important cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality among children and young adults. Therefore, the management of RHD continues to be a worldwide challenge and efforts still need to be put in the prevention and treatment of RHD in exposed countries. Worldwide, RHD affects an estimated 16 million people yearly, and is responsible for up to 300,000 deaths each year.
The objectives of this Research Topic are:
1. To evaluate the current situation with RHD worldwide, whereas in developing regions and in developed countries.
2. Evaluate strategies to contain or eradicate RHD, not only in Western Europe and North America but worldwide.
3. Evaluate the possibility of using new approaches, such as biological, immunological, pharmaceutical, cardiological or surgical, but also information technology, to screen, diagnose and treat RHD.
4. Discuss new developments in cardiac surgery or other invasive treatments in low-income countries.
The Guest Editors would like to welcome clinicians, such as cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, and scientists, such as epidemiologists, health managers and economists, industry and migration specialists from all over the world to tackle the new challenges in the management of RHD.
The resurging interest in the pathogenesis of RHD and the recent advances in the science and practice of RHD makes this Research Topic timely and interesting for a worldwide scientific audience. We will consider submissions of all article types including reviews, original research and perspectives.
Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) almost disappeared in western Europe and north America due to improved living standards and to widespread use of antibiotics. However, phenomena such as migration and globalization may reintroduce RHD in these regions. In developing continents like Africa and Asia RHD is still an important cause of cardiac morbidity and mortality among children and young adults. Therefore, the management of RHD continues to be a worldwide challenge and efforts still need to be put in the prevention and treatment of RHD in exposed countries. Worldwide, RHD affects an estimated 16 million people yearly, and is responsible for up to 300,000 deaths each year.
The objectives of this Research Topic are:
1. To evaluate the current situation with RHD worldwide, whereas in developing regions and in developed countries.
2. Evaluate strategies to contain or eradicate RHD, not only in Western Europe and North America but worldwide.
3. Evaluate the possibility of using new approaches, such as biological, immunological, pharmaceutical, cardiological or surgical, but also information technology, to screen, diagnose and treat RHD.
4. Discuss new developments in cardiac surgery or other invasive treatments in low-income countries.
The Guest Editors would like to welcome clinicians, such as cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, and scientists, such as epidemiologists, health managers and economists, industry and migration specialists from all over the world to tackle the new challenges in the management of RHD.
The resurging interest in the pathogenesis of RHD and the recent advances in the science and practice of RHD makes this Research Topic timely and interesting for a worldwide scientific audience. We will consider submissions of all article types including reviews, original research and perspectives.