Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is preventable. The collective experience of communities and clinicians, in addition to over 25 years of research, means the knowledge and evidence base now exists to eliminate rheumatic heart disease in Australia. This strategy document brings together this experience, knowledge and evidence for the first time, presenting an opportunity for Australia...

This edition of the Australian guideline for the prevention, diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) has a new focus which places people and their families and communities, at the centre of care.

Globally, congenital heart disease affects around 9 in every 1,000 babies born. In Australia, a large number of children, young people and adults live with congenital heart disease. This report presents latest statistics and trends on the incidence of congenital heart disease, and on hospitalisation and mortality.

This is the fourth national report on the 21 Better Cardiac Care measures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with updated data available for 14 measures. The report indicates that the level of access for cardiac-related health services is improving for Indigenous Australians.

This in-brief report provides an overview of the data in the main report, also titled ‘Acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Australia’.