Rising Ethnic Inequalities in Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease,New Zealand, 2000–2018 |
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| Authors: | Julie Bennett Jane Zhang William Leung Susan Jack Jane Oliver Rachel Webb Nigel Wilson Dianne Sika-Paotonu Matire Harwood Michael G. Baker |
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| Affiliation: | University of Otago, Wellington (J. Bennett, J. Zhang, W. Leung, D. Sika-Paotonu, M.G. Baker);Southern District Health Board, Dunedin, New Zealand (S. Jack);University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (J. Oliver);Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Melbourne (J. Oliver);Auckland District Health Board, Auckland, New Zealand (R. Webb, N. Wilson);University of Auckland, Auckland (D. Sika-Paotonu, M. Harwood) |
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| Abstract: | We describe trends in acute rheumatic fever (ARF), rheumatic heart disease (RHD), and RHD deaths among population groups in New Zealand. We analyzed initial primary ARF and RHD hospitalizations during 2000–2018 and RHD mortality rates during 2000–2016. We found elevated rates of initial ARF hospitalizations for persons of Māori (adjusted rate ratio [aRR] 11.8, 95% CI 10.0–14.0) and Pacific Islander (aRR 23.6, 95% CI 19.9–27.9) ethnicity compared with persons of European/other ethnicity. We also noted higher rates of initial RHD hospitalization for Māori (aRR 3.2, 95% CI 2.9–3.5) and Pacific Islander (aRR 4.6, 95% CI 4.2–5.1) groups and RHD deaths among these groups (Māori aRR 12.3, 95% CI 10.3–14.6, and Pacific Islanders aRR 11.2, 95% CI 9.1–13.8). Rates also were higher in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods. To curb high rates of ARF and RHD, New Zealand must address increasing social and ethnic inequalities. |
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| Keywords: | rheumatic fever, rheumatic heart disease, poverty, children, inequalities, Mā ori, Pacific Islander, epidemiology, trends, Socioeconomic deprivation, streptococci, bacteria, New Zealand |
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