Rheumatic fever and RHD is still a major cause for cardio vascular morbidity and mortality in India .It seems , improving quality of life has little impact on the incidence .(We could realise this as we sit in the cardiology OPD of a 200 year old hospital !) There is no country wide data on the true prevalence . Our understanding of rheumatic heart disease is based on isolated studies on localized populations .
Of late , cardiology resources in our country is diverted towards much glamorous CAD the poor continue to suffer with RHD.
Just Imagine many hospitals indulge in 1000s of PTCA every year but hardly do a hand full of PTMCs.
How our cath lab resources are used across the breadth and length of country needs some introspection (Currently , I believe we have about 750 labs ) .I think there should be a binding legislation in every cath lab .For every 10 PTCAs done at least one PTMC must be done to heal the poor .( Like the Air-craft license .You can’t fly only the lucrative metro sector is given only if IT services less developed areas )
In this scenario , it is a pleasant surprise to find a wonderful review article on RHD from the two pioneers , in lesser known medical journal IJMR .
Especially heartening is the fact , it is a collective effort from two distant regions of India ( Kochi from down south and New Delhi In the north) . While politicians keep the divide , it is a great work of the authors , which would help youngsters who would like to go on a national mission on eradication of RHD. .
Reference
http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/2013/april/centenary%20review%20article.pdf
Dr.S.Venkatesan MD 