The Heart Foundation of Australia and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) have released Australia's first national evidence-based review for the diagnosis and management of Acute Rheumatic Fever (ARF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD).

RHD remains a significant cause of cardiac disability and death among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with incidence rates among the highest in the world. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are up to eight times more likely than non-Indigenous Australians to be hospitalised for ARF and RHD and are nearly 20 times more likely to die from these conditions.

The Heart Foundation and CSANZ have jointly developed this evidence-based review to assist policy makers and health professionals, including medical, nursing, allied health and Aboriginal Health Workers address the inadequate diagnosis and management of ARF and RHD in Australia. The purposes of the review were to:

• Identify the standard of care, including preventive care, that should be available to all people, 
• Identify areas where current management strategies may not be in line with available evidence, and
• In the interests of equity, ensure that high risk populations receive the same standard of care as that available to all other Australians.

The evidence-based Full Review is available for downloading by clicking the link below. Printed copies can also be ordered from us via email or by calling 1300 36 27 87 (local call cost).

The Full Review is also available to rural and remote doctors for download to both Palm and Pocket PC PDA operating systems via the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine's Rural and Remote Medical Education Online website www.rrmeo.com

Resources

Full Review

Diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Australia - an evidence-based review (2006) 

 Download

Quick Reference Guides

• Diagnosis of Acute Rheumatic Fever: quick reference guide for health professionals  Download
• Management of Acute Rheumatic Fever: quick reference guide for health professionals  Download
• Secondary Prevention of Acute Rheumatic Fever: quick reference guide for health professionals  Download
• Rheumatic Heart Disease Control Programs: quick reference guide for health organisations  Download
• Management of Rheumatic Heart Disease: quick reference guide for health professionals  Download