Rheumatic heart disease is more common in First Nations people

At 31 December 2022, 6,954 people were recorded as having rheumatic heart disease (RHD) on registers in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory (Supplementary table 3.1b). Of these:

  • 78% (5,424) were First Nations people 
  • most non-Indigenous Australians were not from a high risk country of origin
  • 29% were under 25 years old – with 5 being under 5 years old
  • 66% were female 
  • the Northern Territory and remote areas had the highest prevalence rate 
  • the median age on the register at the end of 2022 was 37 years (Figures 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3; Supplementary tables 3.1b, 3.2, 3.3b and 3.4)
  • the prevalence of RHD increased for First Nations people and all Australians over time (Figure 3.4; Supplementary tables 3.5a and 3.5b).

Figure 3.1: Prevalence of RHD, by Indigenous status and age, as at 31 December 2022

A bar chart showing the highest rate is among First Nations people and people aged 15 to 24 for all Australians and 35 to 44 for First Nations people.

Chart: AIHW. Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease Data Collection.

Figure 3.2: Prevalence of RHD among First Nations people, by state or territory of management, 2022

A bar chart showing the highest rate is in the Northern Territory.

Chart: AIHW. Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease Data Collection.

Figure 3.3: Prevalence of RHD among First Nations people in Qld, WA, SA, and NT, by remoteness of management, 2022

A target chart showing the relative proportion of prevalent RHD by remoteness with most cases being remote.

Chart: AIHW. Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease Data Collection.

Figure 3.4: Prevalence of RHD diagnoses, by Indigenous status and year, 2015 to 2022

A line graph showing the prevalence of RHD increased for First Nations people and all Australians over time.

Chart: AIHW. Source: AIHW analysis of National Rheumatic Heart Disease Data Collection.

At 31 December 2022, 142 people were recorded on the New South Wales register. This is unlikely to be representative of all Australians with RHD in New South Wales as RHD is notifiable only in those under 35 at the time of diagnosis. Of these: 

  • 37% (53 people) were First Nations people and 63% (89) were non-Indigenous 
  • most non-Indigenous people with RHD were Pacific Islanders (44)
  • 7.7% (11) were under 15 years old
  • 55% (78) were female
  • the median age on the register at the end of 2022 was 24 years (Supplementary tables 3.1b and 3.4)
  • the prevalence of RHD generally increased for First Nations people and all Australians over time, with slight fluctuations for First Nations people due to small numbers (Supplementary tables 3.5a and 3.5b).
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