Coronary Artery Disease in Australia

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when a coronary artery clogs and narrows due to plaque buildup. CAD is the leading single cause of death in Australia, accounting for 18,600 deaths in 2022, and is the second leading cause of premature death. This represented 10% of all deaths and 41% of cardiovascular disease deaths. In 2022, an estimated 600,000 Australians aged 18 and over had CAD, based on self-reported data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2022 National Health Survey. In 2021, an estimated 57,300 people aged 25 and over had an acute coronary event in the form of a heart attack or unstable angina – around 157 events every day. Of these, 7,400 (13%) were fatal.

To address this national health problem, the ACvA convened a national workshop in 2024, facilitated by Professors Jason Kovacic and Stephen Nicholls to bring together participants from across the sector (consumers, researchers, clinicians and industry) to identify research priorities that, if addressed, have the potential to make significant strides in improving CAD outcomes.

The workshop highlighted the disparity in CAD outcomes in regional, rural and remote regions (RRR) compared to metropolitan Australia, with these areas experiencing higher mortality and poorer outcomes at an earlier age. To begin understanding how to address this inequity, a series of place-based workshops were held in Dubbo NSW, Wollongong NSW, and Riverland SA.

Research Priorities for Coronary Artery Disease in Regional, Rural and Remote Australia

Following national and place-based workshops, key research priorities were established to address these inequities.

Research Priorities

Prevention – Effective primary prevention strategies exist but are underutilised in rural and remote areas

Primary Care - GP shortages and locum reliance compromise care continuity

Acute Care - Limited specialists and facilities need better resource allocation

Secondary Prevention - Inadequate post-discharge follow-up and rehabilitation services

Outreach Programs - Locally-driven outreach programs are effective as they bring care closer to patients and overcome access barriers

Healthcare Transitions - Critical gaps exist at transition points between acute, primary, community and aged care settings. Strengthening collaboration between Local Health Districts and Primary Health Networks is essential to address these gaps

CAD Co-Leads Professor Gemma Figtree and Professor Peter Psaltis