Australian Heart Maps

If you live in the most disadvantaged communities, you are twice as likely to be hospitalised for a heart condition compared with those living in most advantaged areas, as shown in the data gathered in the Australian Heart Maps, formulated for the Heart Foundation.

This online resource will serve as a valuable tool for health professionals, health services, local governments, researchers and policy makers to set strategies, plan services and target prevention initiatives in the areas of greatest need.

What Australians need for better heart health in the community includes:

• A national heart and stroke strategy that has a robust regional health component.

• Funding for prevention measures that target high risk groups, especially those in rural remote areas.

• A robust food reformulation program that ensures that all Australians, including those in rural and remote areas, benefit from a healthier food supply.

• Detection of people who are at high risk of heart attacks and stroke, through heart health checks and risk reduction programs for populations in rural and remote areas.

• Access to cardiac rehabilitation and disease management programs, via telehealth and cardiac networks, provided to patients with heart failure, coronary disease and atrial fibrillation. This is important for people living in rural and remote communities. A national audit of cardiac rehabilitation services will help highlight the areas of need.

• Better data on time-to-treatment for people who have heart attacks, so that we can highlight areas where greater efforts are needed to ensure the fastest possible treatment for people in rural and remote locations.

• Support for the Lighthouse Project and other initiatives to ensure that we better address the disparities of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffering from heart conditions.

Prevention programs are effective and we need to work together with governments, health services, other sectors and communities to improve access and opportunities for good health.