Rheumatic heart disease in Uganda: predictors of morbidity and mortality one year after presentation.

In this study of RHD in Uganda, morbidity and mortality within 1 year of presentation were higher than in recently published from other low and middle income countries. Suboptimal adherence to benzathine penicillin injections was associated with incident heart failure and mortality over 1 year. Future studies should test interventions to improve adherence among patients with advanced disease who are at the highest risk of mortality.