Cardiovascular Journal of Africa: Vol 24 No 2 (March 2013)

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CARDIOVASCULAR JOURNAL OF AFRICA • Vol 24, No 2, March 2013 AFRICA 33
isolated aortic valvular lesion is not considered a definite RHD
case. That is why there was no patient with isolated aortic vulvlar
lesion seen in our study.
Conclusion
Rheumatic heart disease continues to be a major health problem
in cardiac patients presenting to Mulago Hospital. It accounts for
a large percentage of cardiovascular disease-related admissions
and is an important indication for cardiac surgery in Uganda.
Patients with newly diagnosed RHD in Mulago present with
an advanced disease pattern of clinically severe symptoms
associated with poor quality of life, moderate-to-severe form
of valvular lesions and high frequency of complications. All
these reflect a high burden of RHD in this country, a delayed
diagnosis and delayed seeking of medical services. Young
females accounted for the majority of the study population. The
majority of the newly diagnosed RHD patients required valvular
heart surgery, which is not yet available locally.
This study was supported by a postgraduate research grant from the Uganda
National Council for Science and Technology under the Millennium Science
Initiative and the Uganda Heart Institute. The expert technical assistance of
Sebatta Elias is gratefully acknowledged. Ms Mwesige Beatrice and Gladys
Kahima of the Echocardiography laboratory are also acknowledged.
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