Much of the mortality in rheumatic heart disease was attributable to heart failure, and was significantly reduced by interventional treatment, which may stand as a barrier to improving mortality in lower-income countries, data show.
An analysis of the large international Investigation of Rheumatic Atrial Fibrillation Treatment Using Vitamin K Antagonists, Rivaroxaban or Aspirin Studies (INVICTUS) program was published in JAMA.
“Rheumatic heart disease causes more than 300,000 deaths annually, mainly in low- and middle-income countries. In 2018, the member states of the World Health