Acute rheumatic fever in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand, 2012-2022

To describe the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) cases in Canterbury, Aotearoa New Zealand, 2012-2022.

Cases were identified through cross-matching public health notification data, hospitalisation discharge data and local Canterbury registry data. Cases were included if they were diagnosed with ARF or rheumatic heart disease (RHD) from January 2012 to December 2022 in the Canterbury Region and were under 30 years of age.

A total of 34 cases were included. Twenty-nine were diagnosed with their first episode of ARF and five were diagnosed with RHD without a previously identified episode of ARF. Overall rates of ARF were significantly lower in Canterbury than in the rest of New Zealand. Over half of the patients identified through the three datasets were excluded due to being diagnosed outside of the region.

Case numbers of ARF and RHD diagnosed in Canterbury are low when compared with other regions in New Zealand. The majority of patients receiving ongoing prophylactic treatment for ARF in the region have migrated to Canterbury from the North Island or the Pacific Region. To ensure this group of patients receive the healthcare they need, it is important that we have a highly robust national surveillance system.