Rheumatic heart disease surgery in adult Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) affects the heart valves of older non-Indigenous and younger Indigenous Australians. Surgical management of RHD and non-RHD valve procedures were analysed using the ANZSCTS Cardiac Surgery Database and associations with outcomes identified. RHD surgery was more common in young, female, Indigenous patients with atrial fibrillation. These factors had implications for surgical choice, anticoagulation and future management. Associations between site or surgeon caseload were not simple or consistent. A future enhanced surveillance system for assessment of disease severity, co-morbidities, intervention, and outcomes will assist in achieving optimal outcomes and inform national management guidelines for RHD management.