Burden of heart diseases in children attending cardiology clinic in a regional referral hospital in Uganda

Abstract

Patterns and prevalence of heart diseases are different between the high income countries and low income countries.1,2 Acquired heart diseases like RHD, cardiomyopathies, pericarditis are still a public health burden while congenital heart diseases still carry a poor outcome among children.3 Uganda is one of the countries that contribute to the highest prevalence of congenital heart disease in Sub Saharan Africa.4 The absence of early diagnosis, surgical intervention and inadequate access to medication coupled with the existing burden of communicable diseases increases the strain on a staggering economy of most sub Saharan countries.4 Unlike in the developed countries, children with heart disease in LMIC present late with severe complications to hospitals that are inadequately equipped to manage both the simple and complex heart diseases.5–8 Over the years, good will organizations have come to aid in providing surgical intervention for the children with heart diseases within and out of their countries.2–8 However, the burden still remains unclear and the outcome of the children who don’t get the opportunity of surgery is still not well known.