ARF recurrences per 100 patient years
The measure of ARF recurrences per 100 patient years is used to account for the different amounts of time people who have had an ARF episode are at risk of having a recurrent episode. It enables comparison of the total number of days after the first ARF episode a person is at risk of recurrence. This analysis only includes people who are on preventative treatment.
In 2017, among more than 3,600 people who were prescribed BPG, there were 132 reported ARF recurrences. For every 100 patient years at risk, there were 3.9 ARF recurrences. The recurrence rate per 100 patient years was slightly higher among females than males, and slightly higher among Indigenous than non-Indigenous Australians.
|
Number of recurrences
|
Recurrences per 100 patient years
|
Sex
|
|
|
Male
|
52
|
3.7
|
Female
|
80
|
4.0
|
Indigenous status
|
|
|
Indigenous
|
126
|
3.9
|
Non-Indigenous
|
6
|
3.6
|
Total
|
132
|
3.9
|
Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease data collection.
The rate of recurrence generally decreased with age. For children, the risk of recurrence per 100 patient years in 2017 was 6.8, compared with 0.9 in those aged 45 and over.

Note: Age is age at 31 December 2017.
Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease data collection.
There were 27 recurrences in QLD, 18 in WA, 7 in SA and 80 in the NT in 2017. The rate per 100 patient years of ARF recurrence was highest in SA and lowest in QLD.

Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease data collection.