Key result
Indigenous Australian status is linked to ~12-point lower rates of CRT implantation vs non-Indigenous patients.
Why the study?
Heart failure in Indigenous Australians in Far North Queensland is linked to health disparities, but data on aetiology and advanced therapy use are limited.
Do clinical characteristics, heart failure aetiology, and device therapy utilization differ between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients in Far North Queensland?
Cohort (n=400)
No
Do clinical characteristics, heart failure aetiology, and device therapy utilization differ between Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients in Far North Queensland?
Absolute Event Rate: 5% vs 17%
p-value: p=<0.001
Indigenous heart failure patients in Far North Queensland present at a younger age with higher rates of rheumatic/valvular etiology and are significantly less likely to receive cardiac resynchronization therapy despite lower ejection fractions.
Background Heart failure (HF) in Indigenous Australians is linked to health disparities, but data on aetiology and advanced therapy use in Far North Queensland (FNQ) are limited. We compared clinical characteristics, aetiology, and device therapy between Indigenous and non-Indigenous HF patients. Methods We retrospectively studied patients with HF managed at a tertiary centre in FNQ. Demographics, comorbidities, HF aetiology, echocardiographic parameters, and device therapy were compared. Continuous variables were analysed with t-tests and categorical variables with chi-square testing. Results Among 400 patients, 197 (49%) were Indigenous. Indigenous patients were younger (54 vs 69 years, p<0.001), had higher diabetes rates (59% vs 33%, p<0.001), but lower atrial fibrillation prevalence (35% vs 47%, p=0.025). Aetiology differed: rheumatic heart disease (16% vs 0%) and valvular cardiomyopathy (15% vs 3%) were more common in Indigenous patients, while tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy was higher in non-Indigenous patients (21% vs 9%) (Table). Despite lower mean left ventricular ejection fraction (34.6% vs 37.6%, p=0.023), cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) implantation was less frequent (5% vs 17%, p<0.001). Conclusions Indigenous HF patients in FNQ present younger with distinct etiologic patterns, including higher rheumatic and valvular disease. Despite lower ejection fraction, CRT implantation was less common, highlighting potential differences in HF phenotype or access to advanced therapies.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Tan et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Heart Failure (n=400). Indigenous Australian status vs. Non-Indigenous Australian status was evaluated on Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) implantation (p=<0.001). Indigenous Australian status was associated with significantly lower rates of cardiac resynchronisation therapy implantation compared to non-Indigenous patients (5% vs 17%, P<0.001).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: