The majority of acute rheumatic fever diagnoses are in children and young adults

Of the 533 acute rheumatic fever (ARF) diagnoses among all Australians in 2022:

  • the most common age at diagnosis was 5–14 years
  • females accounted for 61% of diagnoses
  • in people aged under 15 years, ARF rates were similar among boys and girls but women 15 years and over had a higher rate than men (Figure 2.2; Supplementary Table 2.3b). 

Of the 505 ARF diagnoses among First Nations people in 2022:

  • the highest rate of diagnosis was among those aged 5–14 years, accounting for 43% of all diagnoses 
  • females accounted for 62% of diagnoses 
  • ARF rates per 100,000 population among females were higher than those among males (Figure 2.2; Supplementary Table 2.3a).

Figure 2.2: Rate of ARF diagnoses, by Indigenous status, age, and sex, 2022

A bar chart showing the highest rate is among First Nations people, females, and children

Chart: AIHW. Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease Data Collection.

Previous page
Next page