Early rheumatic heart disease is a recognized intermediate on the pathway to advanced rheumatic heart disease.

Rheumatic heart disease is a major cause of premature cardiovascular morbidity and mortality globally. Over the past decade, echocardiographic screening has changed our understanding of the natural history of RHD, revealing a high burden of clinically silent, mild RHD among people who cannot recall a history of preceding acute rheumatic fever. This viewpoint outlines the evidence that this earliest form of rheumatic heart disease, only detectable through echocardiographic screening, is an intermediate stage that many, but not all, individuals may pass through on the pathway to advanced rheumatic heart disease. This shift in understanding has important clinical and research implications, including introducing a new and more pragmatic target for Streptococcus pyogenes vaccine trials for the indication of rheumatic heart disease prevention.