Abstract
Objective
To measure the economic output/input ratios for the various options of prevention of rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease (RF/RHD) and check the viability of primary prevention vis-à-vis secondary and tertiary preventions.
Methods
Cost accounting of the various prevention options was calculated for each variable as available in literature. Actual data as obtainable for the financial year ending March 2006 were computed for the Pondicherry population. Both direct and indirect costs (including community/social costs) were worked out using mostly primary data, and wherever necessary, secondary data. Certain scientific assumptions were used where exact data was not available.
Results
Primary prevention is the definite viable economic option (1:1.56) compared to secondary (1: 1.07) and tertiary (1: 0.12) preventions. In fact, the current stress on only secondary and tertiary preventions is found to be economically unviable.
Conclusion
It is postulated that primary prevention as a practical policy in tackling RF and RHD can be recommended.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
WHO. Technical Report Series. 1988; 764: 1–58.
McLaren MJ, Markowitz M, Gerber MA. Rheumatic Heart Disease in developing countries: The consequence of inadequate prevention. Ann Intern Med 1994; 120(3): 3–5.
Sobhan Nandi, Rajesh Kumar, Pallab Ray, Harpreet Vohra, NK Ganguly. Group A Streptococcal sore throat in a periurban population of Northern India: a one-year Prospective study. Bull World Health Organ 2001; 79(6): 528–533.
WHO. Technical Report Series, No. 923. 2001: 23, 69, 70, 83, 85, 91, 111
Census of India 2001 — Series 1: Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India
Padmavathi S. Present status of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in India. Indian Heart J 2001; 53(1): 35–37.
Personal communications based on interaction with concerned departments in JIPMER
World Development Indices from World Bank, April 2004 (www.finfacts.com/biz10/globalworldincomepercapita.htm)
Ravisha MS, Tullu MS, Kamat JR. Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: clinical profile of 550 cases in India. Arch Med Res 2003; 34(5): 382–387.
Park K. Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 18th ed. Jabalpur; M/s Banarsida Bhanot, 2005; 299–300.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Soudarssanane, M., Karthigeyan, M., Mahalakshmy, T. et al. Rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease: Primary prevention is the cost effective option. Indian J Pediatr 74, 567–570 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-007-0094-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-007-0094-y