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Abstract：
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.
摘要：
急性风湿热（ARF）及其后遗症，风湿性心脏病（RHD），基本上已经从高收入国家消失了。然而,新西兰(NZ),土著毛利人和太平洋人口的比率仍然高得令人无法接受。这项研究的目的是确定ARF的潜在可改变的风险因素，以支持有效的疾病预防政策和计划。使用案例控制设计。案例是符合ARF标准NZ案例定义的案例，在第一次ARF住院后四周内招募，年龄不到20岁，居住在新西兰的北岛。这项研究旨在招募至少120例病例和360名年龄相匹配的对照，种族,性别,剥夺,区,和时间段。对于数据收集，将使用一份全面的预测试问卷,重点关注患病或访谈前4周内的暴露情况.关联数据包括以前的住院治疗，牙科记录,和学校特色。标本收集包括咽拭子（A组链球菌），鼻拭子（金黄色葡萄球菌），血液（维生素D，铁蛋白,基因检测的DNA,免疫分析)，和头发（尼古丁）。这项研究的一个主要优势是它的全面关注涵盖生物体，宿主和环境因素。具有紧密匹配的控件可以检查广泛的特定环境风险因素。
