A hospital-based study of socioeconomic status and clinical spectrum of rheumatic heart disease patients of Assam, North-East India

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the impact of socioeconomic factors in increased prevalence of rheumatic heart disease and its clinical spectrum in Assam, North-East India. Method A case–control questionnaire-based study of 100 echocardiography confirmed rheumatic heart disease cases with age- and sex-matched healthy controls from Assam medical college and hospital in Dibrugarh, Assam was conducted. Results There was a trend toward increased risk of rheumatic heart disease and its clinical spectrum with respect to low socioeconomic status. Three parameters were found to be statistically significant in posing increased risk towards rheumatic heart disease: rural dwelling location (p