Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) has been thought as a disease of poor socioeconomic status. It is more prevalent in underdeveloped and developing countries than in developed countries. It is also common among the population with multiple social issues such as overcrowded dwellings, under-nutrition, poor sanitation and suboptimal medical care. This study was done to review the socio demographic profiles of RHD patients in Hospital Queen Elizabeth (HQE) ll, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. A secondary data review of all patients registered under the RHD registry in HQE ll for one- year starting from July 2013 to June 2014. 204 RHD patients were included. Nearly three quarter (74.0%) were female. The mean age was 40.43 (14.75) years old. 61.1% has completed secondary education. 42.7% were housewives. The mean monthly income was RM 1363.83 (1297.05) which was categorized under the vulnerable income group. When they were categorized under the poverty level and the vulnerable income group, 42.6% and 76.5% of them fell under those categories respectively. The nearest health facilities to their houses were district hospitals (33.3%) with the mean distance of 9.17 km and health clinics (30.8%) with the mean distance of 4.27 km. Only 11.5% of them lived near the specialist hospitals with the mean distance of 21.32 km. Results from this review suggested that majority of RHD patients were in the low socioeconomic group with less access to health care facilities with specialist care. They are the most vulnerable groups and need to be prioritized in the specialized care program.​

Rheumatic heart disease is still endemic in developing countries and among the indigenous population in developed countries. However, there is no comprehensive data on rheumatic heart disease patients in Malaysia. The Cardiology Department of Queen Elizabeth ll Hospital (QEH ll), Sabah started this hospital-based registry in 2010. The objective of this analysis was to report the demographic profile, severity of disease, types of valve involvement and the practice of secondary prophylaxis among these patients. This was a retrospective record review involved a three-year review of patients registered under the rheumatic heart disease registry in QEH ll, Sabah from December 2010 to November 2013. It included patients who attended the cardiology clinic who were diagnosed with rheumatic heart disease. A total of 627 rheumatic heart disease patients were registered over a period of three years. Mean age was 41 (16.2) year old, 67.5% were female, and 51.2% of the patients had severe valvular dysfunction with mitral regurgitation as the commonest valve affected (67.3%). There was an increasing trend in the percentage of patients receiving secondary prophylaxis (oral and intra-muscular) from the year 2010 to the year 2013 (23.2% and 67.6% respectively). Abnormal ECG, pulmonary regurgitation and not on any secondary prophylaxis were found to be associated with severe rheumatic heart disease. Rheumatic heart disease is prevalent in Sabah. Most patients had severe form of valve dysfunction when diagnosed. Awareness and advocacy on secondary prophylaxis warrant immediate improvement.