Ethnically Disparate Disease Progression and Outcomes among Acute Rheumatic Fever Patients in New Zealand, 1989–2015

Abstract We investigated outcomes for patients born after 1983 and hospitalized with initial acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in New Zealand during 1989–2012. linked ARF progression outcome data (recurrent hospitalization ARF, heart disease [RHD], death from circulatory causes) 1989–2015. Retrospective analysis identified RHD <40 years of age who were 2010–2015 previously ARF. Most (86.4%) the 2,182 did not experience by end 2015. Progression probability 26.8 theoretical follow-up was 24.0%; death, 1.0%. more rapid ≈2 times likely indigenous Māori or Pacific Islander patients. Of 435 patients, 82.2% had been This young cohort demonstrated low mortality rates but considerable illness, especially among underserved populations. A national patient register could help monitor, prevent, reduce progression.