Background
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of mortality in the Indigenous Australian
population. Limited research exists in regards to cardiac surgery in the Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) population. We aimed to investigate risk profiles,
surgical pathologies, surgical management and short term outcomes in a contemporary
group of patients.
Methods
Variables were assessed for 557 consecutive patients who underwent surgery at our
institution between August 2008 and March 2010.
Results
19.2% (107/557) of patients were of Indigenous origin. ATSI patients were significantly
younger at time of surgery (mean age 54.1 ± 13.23 vs. 63.1 ± 12.46; p = <0.001) with higher rates of preventable risk factors. Rheumatic heart disease (RHD)
was the dominant valvular pathology observed in the Indigenous population. Significantly
higher rates of left ventricular impairment and more diffuse coronary artery disease
were observed in ATSI patients. A non-significant trend towards higher 30-day mortality
was observed in the Indigenous population (5.6% vs. 3.1%; p = 0.244).
Conclusions
Cardiac surgery is generally required at a younger age in the Indigenous population
with patients often presenting with more advanced disease. Despite often more advanced
disease, surgical outcomes do not differ significantly from non-Indigenous patients.
Continued focus on preventative strategies for coronary artery disease and RHD in
the Indigenous population is required.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 09, 2013
Accepted:
September 7,
2013
Received in revised form:
August 11,
2013
Received:
May 9,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc.
