Heart health measures to guide policy and practice for First Nations peoples

Doctor Ingrid Stacey, University of Western Australia

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Years funded: 2026 - 2027

Heart health measures to guide policy and practice for First Nations peoples: time to close the data gaps

First Nations Australians experience an inequitable burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) that causes poor health in youth and premature deaths. Addressing this inequity demands evidence-based healthcare delivered in a way that meets the needs of First Nations communities. However, data gaps exist in the information available for such purposes. My research addresses these information gaps by designing and implementing new, statistically robust cardiovascular health measures aligned with First Nations priorities.

This program aims to:

(1) Evaluate health service use, risk predictors and outcomes of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) or rheumatic heart disease (RHD) for people who are in contact with RHD register control programs compared to those who are not;

(2) Co-design a study investigating disease burden, health service use and treatment effectiveness for First Nations patients with chronic coronary disease (CCD); and,

(3) Develop and test co-designed cardiovascular health and quality of care indicators and visualise these in dashboards, to facilitate real-time surveillance in primary health care (PHC) settings.

Aim 1 will use linked RHD register, hospital and death records from WA and NT to determine the effectiveness of RHD register notification on care delivery and long-term health outcomes. Aim 2 will measure CCD epidemiology, using big data techniques and the new “National Health Data Hub” dataset containing records of hospital and doctor visits. My research will combine these records to mimic a clinical diagnosis of CCD, which will facilitate estimation of incidence, prevalence and medical/surgical treatment for the first time ever. Aim 3 will be conducted in collaboration with the South-West Aboriginal Medical Service. Health indicators based on routinely collected PHC data will be developed, for use in evaluating local programs and generating evidence of “what works”.

This research will have significant impact, with research translation activities embedded into each study aim. Findings from Aim 1 will inform RHD Guideline updates and First Nations-led RHD elimination programs. Novel CCD measurement in Aim 2 will be communicated with the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to inform surveillance activities. Aim 3 has an embedded translational aspect (dashboard implementation) which ensures that tools developed are immediately accessible to PHC providers, which will increase health service analytical capacity. Video and artistic translation of findings into consumer and healthcare worker resources will be facilitated via our relationship with Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, who have a dedicated graphics unit. Together, these outcomes will contribute to closing the data and health gaps.