Better Cardiac Care Data Linkage Project

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia.

In Queensland, the mortality rate from cardiac conditions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders is 1.6* times that for other Queenslanders.

Better Cardiac Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, an initiative of the Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council aims to reduce deaths and ill health from cardiac conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. The sixth national report on the 21 Better Cardiac Care measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with updated data available for 14 measures was released on 30 November 2021*.

The Queensland Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division sponsored the Better Cardiac Care Data Linkage Project, analysing current incidences and outcomes of cardiac events for Queenslanders. The study cohort included Queenslanders admitted to Queensland public or private hospitals during 2010-2016, presenting for the first time with ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, rheumatic heart disease and/or acute rheumatic fever. Presented in the report are findings in relation to survival, procedures, length of stay, readmissions, comorbidities and equity of service delivery.

*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2021. Better Cardiac Care measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: sixth national report 2021 (PDF). Cat. no. IHW 263. Canberra: AIHW. Better Cardiac Care measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: sixth national report 2021, Summary - Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (aihw.gov.au).

Better Cardiac Care Linkage Project Reports

Last updated: 22 March 2022