Table 2.
Characteristics of Cohort for Analysis of Factors Associated With Adherence
| Factor | Categories | Estimates of Annual Adherence, n (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Ethnicity | Indigenous* | 7728 (98) |
| Not indigenous | 160 (2) | |
| Patient demographics (indigenous only) | ||
| Age | Children (0–14 y) | 1336 (17) |
| Adolescents (15–21 y) | 2008 (26) | |
| Adults (22–40 y) | 3444 (45) | |
| Older people (41 y and older) | 940 (12) | |
| Sex | Male | 2895 (37) |
| Female | 4833 (63) | |
| Residential area† | Urban | 1151 (15) |
| Not urban | 6577 (85) | |
| Disease and treatment characteristics (ARF and RHD) | ||
| Disease severity (at beginning of each y) | Severe RHD | 1805 (23) |
| Moderate RHD | 1391 (18) | |
| Mild RHD | 1804 (23) | |
| ARF only (no RHD) | 2728 (35) | |
| SP regimen | 3‐wkly BPG | 66 (1) |
| 4‐wkly BPG | 7662 (99) | |
| Time since first diagnosis‡ | Less than 1 y | 581 (8) |
| At least 1 y | 7147 (92) | |
| Comorbidities | ||
| Presence of a comorbidity§ | 2143 (28) | |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitus | 173 (3) | |
| Hypertension | 872 (11) | |
| Obesity | 259 (3) | |
| Hazardous alcohol use | 1272 (16) | |
| Other drug misuse | 336 (4) | |
| Depression | 193 (3) | |
| Intentional self‐harm | 316 (4) | |
| Experience of assault | 1184 (15) | |
| Calendar y | ||
| 2007 | 1033 (13) | |
| 2008 | 1053 (14) | |
| 2009 | 1078 (14) | |
| 2010 | 1096 (14) | |
| 2011 | 1120 (14) | |
| 2012 | 1147 (15) | |
| 2013 | 1201 (16) | |
ARF indicates acute rheumatic fever; BPG, benzathine penicillin G; RHD, rheumatic heart disease; SP, secondary prophylaxis.
*
Indigenous refers to people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
†
Urban residential areas are “Darwin urban” and “Alice Springs urban” as defined by the NT Department of Health districts.
‡
In the middle of the calendar year.
§
Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥1.