In 2015–2019, there were 31 deaths recorded among people with a notification of ARF only (people with both ARF and RHD notifications were analysed as RHD deaths). These individuals could have died from any cause, as cause of death is not captured on most registers. Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 29 deaths were recorded, with 19 deaths occurring in the Northern Territory. The median age at death was 46 years, with 13 of those who died being aged 45–64.
|
Age group
|
Indigenous
|
Non-Indigenous
|
All Australians
|
Table 2: Deaths among Australians with a diagnosis of ARF only on registers in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, by age group and Indigenous status, 2015–2019
|
0–14
|
2
|
0
|
2
|
|
15–44
|
11
|
0
|
11
|
|
45–64
|
13
|
1
|
14
|
|
65+
|
3
|
1
|
4
|
|
All ages
|
29
|
2
|
31
|
Source: AIHW analysis of the National Rheumatic Heart Disease Data Collection, as at 31 December 2019.