EXPERT REACTION: The widening ethnic divide in NZ’s heart failure rates

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-08-04 03:00

New Zealand

PHOTO: Robina Weermeijer/Unsplash

In a first-of-its-kind study, NZ researchers found that rates of heart failure decreased in older, European people over the course of 13 years, but those rates didn’t budge at all for older Māori and Pacific people. The study authors acknowledge there are other wider, social inequalities at the root of the problem, and say any wide-ranging solutions should have a strengths-based approach and recognise the expertise within Māori and Pacific communities.

Expert Reaction

These comments have been collated by the Science Media Centre to provide a variety of expert perspectives on this issue. Feel free to use these quotes in your stories. Views expressed are the personal opinions of the experts named. They do not represent the views of the SMC or any other organisation unless specifically stated.

Dr Daniel Chan, Department of Cardiology, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, Te Tai Tokerau, Whangarei

This study shows that Māori and Pacific people are more likely to be hospitalised with heart failure than other ethnic groups – with rates up to 6-fold in those under 50 years of age. This gap has been widening over the past 13 years. Urgent action is required to address the inequitable burden of risk factors for heart failure and the wider socioeconomic determinants of poor health.

Last updated: 01 Aug 2023 11:46am

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Declared conflicts of interest No conflicts of interest declared.

Journal/
conference: Heart

Research:Paper

Organisation/s: Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand, University of Auckland

Funder: DZLC is supported by the A.H. Couch Trust. CG and MH supported by the New Zealand Heart Foundation and Healthier Lives (National Science Challenge). RND holds the New Zealand Heart Foundation Chair of Health. KP holds the Heart Foundation Hynds Senior Fellowship and is on the editorial board for BMJ Heart. DZLC is supported by the A.H. Couch Trust. CG and MH were supported by the New Zealand Heart Foundation and Healthier Lives (National Science Challenge). RND holds the New Zealand Heart Foundation Chair of Health. KP holds the Heart Foundation Hynds Senior Fellowship and is on the editorial board for BMJ Heart.

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