Impact of the COVID‑19 Pandemic on Group A Streptococcal Infections, Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in US Youth: Trends and Social Vulnerability.
BACKGROUND The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected exposure to infectious agents. We aimed to analyze changes in Group A streptococcal (GAS), acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess associated social vulnerability indices (SVI)....