Hospital care and cardiac rehabilitation

Hospitalisation rates for cardiovascular disease (CVD) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are high [53191], particularly in remote and very remote areas.

Specific causes of CVD hospitalisation include:

• coronary heart disease (including heart attack)
• stroke
• heart failure and cardiomyopathy
• atrial fibrillation
• peripheral heart disease
• acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
• congenital heart disease [31188].

Hospitals play a critical role in improving access to evidence-based care and addressing disparities in heart health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [48657]. Culturally informed models of care can improve clinical outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Cardiac rehabilitation often begins in hospital and continues when a patient goes home. Aboriginal community controlled health organisations can provide a holistic, person-centred approach to care that is focused on wellbeing by providing access to Health Workers/Practitioners, GPs, nurses and allied health workers [51583]. Care can also include home-based support including telehealth, mobile apps and devices such as wearables, and community-based exercise and education programs [51583].

Cardiac rehabilitation has been shown to be beneficial following a heart attack, but participation rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are low [53191]. Affordability of care, access to culturally safe health services and travelling long distances from rural and remote areas are some of the barriers to attending cardiac programs.