ARF recurrences per 100 patient years among all Australians

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. 

Table 4: Number and rate of ARF recurrences per 100 patient years for people prescribed BPG, by sex and by Indigenous status, 2017

 

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.

Figure 7: ARF recurrences by per 100 patient years and age group, for people prescribed BPG, 31 December 2017

The vertical bar chart shows risk of ARF recurrences by per 100 patient years by age group. The risk of recurrence generally decreased with age. The highest risk of recurrence per 100 patient years in 2017 was seen in children aged 0–14 with risk of recurrence per 200 patients years at 6.8 More information is located in the data tables, ARF Table 11.

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.

Figure 8: ARF recurrences per 100 patient years, by state and territory, 2017 

The vertical bar chart shows risk of ARF recurrences by per 100 patient years by state and territory. The rate per 100 patient years of ARF recurrence was highest in SA and lowest in QLD. More information is located in the data tables, ARF Table 12.

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