Acute illness rate higher for Maori

Young Maori are being admitted to hospital with acute illnesses at a significantly higher rate than non-Maori, says a new report.

The University of Otago research unit report found hospital admissions for young Maori (aged under 24) for rheumatic fever were at a rate 23 times higher than non-Maori, for bronchiectasis were 5.4 times higher and for chronic rheumatic heart disease 7.6 times as high.

Young Maori were almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for type two diabetes.

Dunedin School of Medicine associate professor of Maori health Joanne Baxter says the report is the first to provide a comprehensive picture of disability and chronic conditions in Maori children and young people.

She said it reinforced the importance of prevention, primary care and disability support services for Maori children and young people.

"Factors such as poor housing reinforces the continued need to address childhood poverty and inequalities in unemployment and economic outcomes," she said.

Professor Baxter said the report had significant implications for family and health services.

"I think these figures would make anyone feel concerned and the cases appear to be more frequent. No one wants to see the long-term implications [of these illnesses]."

Between 2005 and 2009, 416 young Maori were admitted to hospital with acute rheumatic fever compared with 62 non-Maori.

In the same period, 173 young Maori were admitted for bronchiectasis compared with 162 non-Maori, which translates to young Maori being admitted 5.4 times more per 100,000 head of population.

The data was gathered from hospital admissions, not through GPs or specialists where most routine care takes place, suggesting the numbers were an "under count".

New Zealand Child and Youth Epidemiology Service director Elizabeth Craig, said urgent changes were needed, citing quality of housing, overcrowding, nutrition and a lack of access to primary health care as major factors.APNZ

The facts

• 
  Bronchiectasis: A chronic respiratory condition associated with recurrent respiratory infections which may lead to long-term respiratory disability.
  
  
• 
  Rheumatic fever: A delayed inflammatory reaction which develops in response to a streptococcal throat infection. It may affect the heart, joints, brain, skin or subcutaneous tissue.
  
  
• 
  Rheumatic heart disease: A progressive condition resulting in damage, scarring and deformities of the heart valves.