TY - JOUR
T1 - Risk factors for acute rheumatic fever
T2 - Literature review and protocol for a case-control study in New Zealand
AU - Baker, Michael G.
AU - Gurney, Jason
AU - Oliver, Jane
AU - Moreland, Nicole J.
AU - Williamson, Deborah A.
AU - Pierse, Nevil
AU - Wilson, Nigel
AU - Merriman, Tony R.
AU - Percival, Teuila
AU - Murray, Colleen
AU - Jackson, Catherine
AU - Edwards, Richard
AU - Page, Lyndie Foster
AU - Mow, Florina Chan
AU - Chong, Angela
AU - Gribben, Barry
AU - Lennon, Diana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
PY - 2019/11/2
Y1 - 2019/11/2
N2 - Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequela, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), have largely disappeared from high-income countries. However, in New Zealand (NZ), rates remain unacceptably high in indigenous Māori and Pacific populations. The goal of this study is to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for ARF to support effective disease prevention policies and programmes. A case-control design is used. Cases are those meeting the standard NZ case-definition for ARF, recruited within four weeks of hospitalisation for a first episode of ARF, aged less than 20 years, and residing in the North Island of NZ. This study aims to recruit at least 120 cases and 360 controls matched by age, ethnicity, gender, deprivation, district, and time period. For data collection, a comprehensive pre-tested questionnaire focussed on exposures during the four weeks prior to illness or interview will be used. Linked data include previous hospitalisations, dental records, and school characteristics. Specimen collection includes a throat swab (Group A Streptococcus), a nasal swab (Staphylococcus aureus), blood (vitamin D, ferritin, DNA for genetic testing, immune-profiling), and head hair (nicotine). A major strength of this study is its comprehensive focus covering organism, host and environmental factors. Having closely matched controls enables the examination of a wide range of specific environmental risk factors.
AB - Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and its sequela, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), have largely disappeared from high-income countries. However, in New Zealand (NZ), rates remain unacceptably high in indigenous Māori and Pacific populations. The goal of this study is to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for ARF to support effective disease prevention policies and programmes. A case-control design is used. Cases are those meeting the standard NZ case-definition for ARF, recruited within four weeks of hospitalisation for a first episode of ARF, aged less than 20 years, and residing in the North Island of NZ. This study aims to recruit at least 120 cases and 360 controls matched by age, ethnicity, gender, deprivation, district, and time period. For data collection, a comprehensive pre-tested questionnaire focussed on exposures during the four weeks prior to illness or interview will be used. Linked data include previous hospitalisations, dental records, and school characteristics. Specimen collection includes a throat swab (Group A Streptococcus), a nasal swab (Staphylococcus aureus), blood (vitamin D, ferritin, DNA for genetic testing, immune-profiling), and head hair (nicotine). A major strength of this study is its comprehensive focus covering organism, host and environmental factors. Having closely matched controls enables the examination of a wide range of specific environmental risk factors.
KW - Acute rheumatic fever
KW - Case-control
KW - Crowding
KW - Environmental tobacco smoke
KW - Group A streptococcus
KW - Health care access
KW - Housing
KW - Rheumatic heart disease
KW - Risk factors
KW - Skin infection
KW - Sore throat
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85075048263
U2 - 10.3390/ijerph16224515
DO - 10.3390/ijerph16224515
M3 - Article
C2 - 31731673
AN - SCOPUS:85075048263
SN - 1661-7827
VL - 16
JO - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
JF - International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
IS - 22
M1 - 4515
ER -
