Coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD; also known as ischaemic heart disease) happens when the coronary arteries get narrower and blood flow to the heart is reduced [1]. It is the usual underlying cause of a heart attack.

Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have CHD or experience heart attacks [2], and CHD is a common reason for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be hospitalised [3]. CHD is also one of the most common causes of death from cardiovascular disease among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The risk factors for CHD include:

• smoking tobacco
• high cholesterol
• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• being inactive
• being overweight
• an unhealthy diet
• mental health conditions and social isolation [4].

It is important that all people who experience a heart attack or have CHD receive equally good clinical care. Currently, there are some aspects of best-practice CHD care that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are less likely to receive than non-Indigenous people [5][6]. Fortunately, evidence indicates that this is improving [6]. Projects like the Lighthouse Hospital Project, the ESSENCE project, and Better Cardiac Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People have strived to achieve equity of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CHD patients.