Māori less likely to use ambulances for heart attacks

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2025-03-14 00:01

New Zealand

Photo by Medic1nz via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Māori, Pacific and Asian people are less likely to go to hospital by ambulance when having a critical heart issue, according to new research looking at over 19,000 hospitalisations. The paper, led by a Hato Hone St John researcher, concludes ambulance access could be improved by reducing costs, providing good-quality information, and better cultural safety from health professionals.

Media release

From: Pasifika Medical Association Group

This study looked at how often different ethnic groups in New Zealand used emergency medical services (EMS) when they had a heart attack or similar serious and sudden heart problems between 2019 and 2021. The researchers found that out of 19,283 patients, Māori, Pacific, Indian and nonIndian Asian people were statistically significantly less likely to use EMS compared with Europeans. This was true for two types of heart attacks studied: STEMI and NSTEMI. The study suggests that there are barriers preventing these groups from using EMS. Strategies have been shown to improve healthcare access, such as good quality information, reduced costs and health professionals who are culturally aware and safe. By implementing these strategies, it may be possible to improve access to emergency heart care for non-European ethnic groups in New Zealand, so that they experience the same level of access as Europeans in this country.

Journal/
conference: NZMJ

Organisation/s: AUT University, University of Auckland, Hato Hone St John, Wellington Free Ambulance

Funder: Vanessa Selak, Shanthi Ameratunga, Matire Harwood and Corina Grey report funding from the Healthier Lives | He Oranga Hauora – National Science Challenge, the Heart Foundation of New Zealand and the Health Research Council of New Zealand (programme and project grants). Rochelle Newport received a PhD scholarship from Manawataki Fatu Fatu. Bridget Dicker is an employee of Hato Hone St John and this work was undertaken in “time only” as part of her employment. Sandra Hanchard received support of Pacific Fellowship from the Heart Foundation and Pūtahi Manawa Healthy Hearts for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Media Contact/s

Contact details are only visible to registered journalists.