New: Better hospital care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing heart attack
The Heart Foundation and Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association report "Better hospital care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing heart attack" is now available.
This report addresses the disparities in hospital care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and makes practical recommendations to close the gap in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heart health.
The report was developed in response to the 2006 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare findings that, compared with other Australians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had:
- three times the rate of major coronary events, such as heart attack
- 1.4 times the out-of-hospital death rate from coronary heart disease (CHD)
more than twice the in-hospital death rate from CHD
- a 40% lower rate of being investigated by angiography
- a 40% lower rate of coronary angioplasty or stent procedures
- a 20% lower rate of coronary bypass surgery.
"Better hospital care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing heart attack" aims to raise awareness of these issues among governments, hospitals, clinicians and other interested parties.
Better hospital care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing heart attack 
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Position Statement. Indigenous Tobacco Control
Our position statement on Indigenous tobacco control is now available. This position statement outlines the Heart Foundation’s policy and funding priorities for Indigenous tobacco control.
In Australia, 50% of Indigenous people smoke compared with a national smoking rate of 19%.*
We recognise the high prevalence of smoking among Indigenous Australians, and in response to the Commonwealth and Coalition of Australian Governments (COAG) announcements on funding allocations for Indigenous tobacco control, we are advancing a range of Indigenous-specific priorities to help to define a national tobacco control strategy for Indigenous Australians.
Reducing the prevalence and uptake of smoking among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is critical in closing the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous cardiovascular health outcomes.
Position statement. Indigenous tobacco control Download
* Trewin D. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey. Australia 2004–05. Cat. No. 4715.0. Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2006. And Scollo MM, Winstanley, MH [editors]. Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues. 3rd edn. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2008.
Buyer’s Guide for Managers of Remote Indigenous Stores and Take-aways
Small steps that have the potential to make a real difference to the nutritional health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living remotely are being taken with this practical tool developed by the Heart Foundation.
The Remote Indigenous Stores and Takeaways (RIST) Project is a collaborative project between the federal and five state and territory jurisdictions. This project sought assistance from the Heart Foundation Tick to improve the range of healthier foods available in remote outlets.
The "Buyer’s Guide" is a tool designed specifically to provide practical help for managers and owners of remote Indigenous stores and take-aways. It identifies specific brands of foods and beverages the Heart Foundation would encourage these stores to stock to improve the range of healthier items on offer for remote Indigenous communities. It is not designed for the broader community.
Buyer's guide for managers of remote Indigenous stores and take-aways Download
Printed copies can be ordered by calling on 1300 36 27 87 (local call cost) or via email.
For more information about the other RIST resources click here and select Health-Nutrition-Programs, projects and lessons.
Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease
Rheumatic heart disease is a significant cause of cardiac disability and death in Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indigenous Australians have one of the highest incidence rates of rheumatic heart disease in the world and are significantly more likely to be hospitalised or die from these conditions than other Australians.
With the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, the Heart Foundation has developed an evidence-based review and guidelines to:
- identify the standard of care that should be available to all people
- identify management areas not in line with available evidence
- ensure high-risk populations receive the same standard of care available as other Australians.
The review will assist health professionals and policy makers.
Diagnosis and Management of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease in Australia: evidence-based review Download
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
Cardiac Rehabilitation
The ongoing management and prevention of cardiovascular disease is core to reducing the impact of coronary disease in people with a history of hypertension, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease and will potentially offer the greatest opportunities for health gains in Indigenous Australians.
The NHMRC guide Strengthening Cardiac Rehabilitation and Secondary Prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people helps health professionals advise Indigenous patients on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services. Information sheets for patients undergoing rehabilitation, together with information on topics such as healthy eating and resuming exercise are also included.
The NHMRC guide complements our efforts to identify alternative models to hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation.