Summary
Linked hospitalisation and mortality data from Western Australia were used to calculate the prevalence of valvular heart disease. Use of this linked data allows individuals to be followed over time, giving a more accurate estimate of prevalence, as individuals with multiple hospitalisations are only counted once and people who have died are excluded. This measure of prevalence has the advantage of being based on clinical diagnoses rather than self-reported information, but it might miss less severe cases that do not result in hospitalisation.
While the data presented here for Western Australia only may not be nationally representative, it may inform how valvular heart disease could be monitored in other jurisdictions using linked data.
What is rheumatic heart disease?
Fast facts: rheumatic heart disease (RHD)
Who has rheumatic heart disease?
What is non-rheumatic valvular disease?
Who has non-rheumatic valvular disease?
Fast facts: non-rheumatic valvular disease (non-RVD)
End matter: References; Acknowledgements