Cardiovascular Disease Among Indigenous Australians

Running head: Cardiovascular Disease 1
Cardiovascular Disease Among Indigenous Australians
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Cardiovascular Disease 2
Introduction
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major influencing factor in the variation of the
health between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. The inequalities in health among the
Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians have been reported by the World Health
Organization as the most significant (Commission on Social Determinants of Health, 2015). The
Indigenous Australian population has the highest incidence of CVD compared to their non-
Indigenous counterparts. There is, therefore, a need to explore the prevalence of Cardiovascular
Disease and social determinants such as socioeconomic status, employment, health inequalities,
and social gradient among the Australian Indigenous population. This also affects their life
expectancy. This essay will also propose an intervention to help prevent and reduce
cardiovascular disease among the Australian Indigenous population. More specifically, the
intervention will address accessibility to quality healthcare services, affordability, and health
inequality. Another relevant sector that can be incorporated into the intervention apart from the
health sector will as well be examined.
SECTION ONE
Burden of Cardiovascular Disease among Indigenous Australians
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) comprises of the diseases that affect the heart or blood
vessels. The condition is characteristic of accumulated fatty deposits within the arteries and an
increased rate of blood clots. Some of the diseases categorized as CVD and affecting the
Indigenous Australians include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, congenital heart
disease, hypertension among others.
Prevalence and Mortality

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Chronic heart-related diseases were 1.2 times and 1.4 times more prevalent among the
Indigenous males and females respectively than the non-Indigenous Australians (Gray, Brown,
& Thomson, 2012). All the age groups of the Indigenous community were much more affected
by CVD than their counterparts with the Indigenous population having an earlier age of onset
than non-Indigenous people. 12% of all the Indigenous people examined by the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (McMahon, Wycherley, O'Dea &
Brimblecombe, 2017) experienced acute heart or associated condition. Those residing in the
remote areas were relatively affected more (14%) than those living in towns (11%). The
prevalence of CVD among the Australian Indigenous population is also measured in terms of the
hospitalization rates. According to the statistical reports of 2008-2009, Indigenous Australians
were hospitalized twice more than their non-Indigenous community in all the age groups.
Moreover, the young and middle adults aged 35 to 54 were more affected than other age groups
(AIHW, 2015).
Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality among the Indigenous population
in most of the Australian states. The Indigenous Australians are twice likely to succumb to CVD
than the non-Indigenous Australians. Additionally, the mortality rates were much higher among
the Indigenous Australians in all the age groups, with a significant disproportion among middle-
aged adults (Marmot, 2011).
Social Determinants of Cardiovascular Health Among Indigenous Australians
The social determinants of health imply the close association between resultant health
and the living and working surroundings that influence the social settings. The existing

Cardiovascular Disease 4
Indigenous social determinants of health act as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Examples
include socio-economic position, health inequalities, education among others.
Social-economic status
Studies show that the Indigenous populations are the lowest income group across all ages
compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts (AHMAC, 2015a). For instance, the mean gross
household income for the non-Indigenous population was $585 per/ week compared to that of the
Indigenous Australians $364 per/week. Moreover, the rate of unemployment of three times
higher for Indigenous community than their counterparts. The highest level of school among the
Indigenous community for year 9 and 12 were 30% and 50% respectively. The distinct disparity
in the health of the Indigenous community is attributable to their lower socioeconomic status.
Studies have shown a relationship between behavioral risk factors and socioeconomic position
such as smoking (Lucero et al., 2014). Unemployed and poorly educated Indigenous Australians
have poor health because it affects their capacity to use available health information. Moreover,
their low income reduces their access to health care services and early treatment of CVD (Price,
& Rogers, 2019). As a result, the CVD becomes acute making treatment difficult.
Health Inequalities
Low socioeconomic status of Indigenous Australians is a risk factor for health
inequalities because the community can not afford quality healthcare services like the non-
Indigenous population. For example, the study by Markwick et al. (2014) on the health
inequalities among the Australian Indigenous populations found out that the Aboriginal
Australians were less likely to go for routine medical check-ups such as blood pressure checks
and to seek medical advice for mental health cases. Furthermore,
Social Gradient