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Factors that precipitate heart failure among children with rheumatic heart disease
Abstract
Objective: To identify factors that precipitates heart failure in children with rheumatic heart disease.
Design: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Setting: Paediatric wards at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Subjects: Children with Rheumatic heart disease admitted for in-patient care due to decompensated heart failure.
Results: A total of 33 patients were studied, thirty two of whom were in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV and one in class III. Non-compliance to antifailure therapy was the most common precipitating factor occurring in 87.9% cases.
Arrhythmia, recurrent rheumatic fever, pneumonia, infective endocarditis, anaemia and overexertion were identified as other precipitating factors. Seventy percent of the patients did not adhere to secondary prophylaxis against rheumatic fever.
Conclusion: Non compliance to anti-failure therapy was the most common precipitating factor.
Design: a descriptive cross-sectional study.
Setting: Paediatric wards at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Subjects: Children with Rheumatic heart disease admitted for in-patient care due to decompensated heart failure.
Results: A total of 33 patients were studied, thirty two of whom were in the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV and one in class III. Non-compliance to antifailure therapy was the most common precipitating factor occurring in 87.9% cases.
Arrhythmia, recurrent rheumatic fever, pneumonia, infective endocarditis, anaemia and overexertion were identified as other precipitating factors. Seventy percent of the patients did not adhere to secondary prophylaxis against rheumatic fever.
Conclusion: Non compliance to anti-failure therapy was the most common precipitating factor.
