The National Heart Foundation: Current role and future directions

Age-adjusted mortality from cardiovascular disease has fallen by approximately 70% over the past 30 years. The Heart Foundation can claim a significant role in these gains, which relate to both decreased event rates (and risk factor prevalence) and a decrease of case-fatality rates because of better treatment. However, cardiovascular disease remains the major public health burden for Australia and progressive ageing of the population will further increase this burden. Diseases such as coronary artery disease result from interactions between genes and the environment, and it is logical that the Heart Foundation should work across the health-disease spectrum. Current cardiovascular health programs not only centre around major risk factors (tobacco control, nutrition and metabolism, blood pressure and physical activity), but also target high-risk populations (cardiac rehabilitation, Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders, and others in rural and remote areas). Medical activities focus on community education, for example, the need for early presentation with possible acute coronary syndromes, development of better practice guidelines in association with other bodies such as the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and monitoring of cardiovascular health. There have been major research achievements by the NHF, particularly noteworthy being the support by the Foundation of the early careers of many national and international leaders in the cardiovascular field.