Heart Foundation data reveals Shepparton heart attack rate worst in state

Shepparton’s heart attack data has topped the state’s – for all the wrong reasons. Now, local leaders are wanting answers.

The Shepparton region has the highest rate of hospitalisations for heart attacks in Victoria.

Goulburn Valley leaders are calling for better regional health services after shocking new data revealed Shepparton had the highest heart attack hospitalisations in the state.

The Heart Foundation report found Shepparton’s rate of hospitalisations for heart attack (17.4 per 10,000 people) and coronary heart disease (55.9 per 10,000 people) was about 70 per cent higher than the state’s lowest region – Melbourne’s inner east.

This puts the region’s figures – which covers Greater Shepparton, Moira and Campaspe shires – nearly 30 per cent higher than the state’s average.

Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed said the figures were “disgraceful” and something needed to be done.

“I have written to the Minister for Health urgently requesting a full briefing,” she said.

“I have also sought a co-ordinated public health response to this alarming information on the health outcomes in the Shepparton region.

“The Heart Foundation’s work is just the latest to show the health divide between metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, where health is determined by where you live and what services you have access to.”

Murray PHN chief executive officer Matt Jones said the health divide between regional and city services was stark.

“There needs to be more effective management of chronic disease, especially in regional Australia where we tend to have an older population,” he said.

“The necessary programs include early intervention, treatment and specialist care, and in regional areas, we don’t have access to specialist care.”

However, he said individuals needed to assess their own lifestyle choices.

“People need to make sure they’re exercising, getting appropriate nutrition, reducing substance abuse, including alcohol and tobacco, and getting care as early as possible,” he said.

Heart Foundation health and research general manager Bill Stavreski agreed and said lifestyle factors were one of the reasons Shepparton has topped the list.

The foundation’s data shows 40 per cent of all adults in Shepparton were obese – ranking fifth in Australia – and one in five people in the region smoked – both which are contributing factors to heart disease and high blood pressure.

But he also said while Shepparton fared badly in the state, there were other regions in Australia with much worse outcomes, including in the Northern Territory and Queensland.

While Mr Stavreski said there was no “silver bullet”, locals should pay attention to diet and exercise, and get regular heart health check-ups with their doctor.

“Shepparton is a great producer of fresh fruit and veg, but dietary consumption around recommended guidelines is far from ideal,” he said.

“In addition, close to 70 per cent are not getting enough exercise for good heart health.

“Coming up to Christmas, we’re encouraged people not to be complacent and to think about their dietary habits, their exercise and make that first step speaking to their GP.”

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said the government has “invested across regional Victoria to improve access to cardiac, stroke and cancer services, have legislated kilojoule labelling, and continue to support the Health Star Rating.”

These investments include the $70 million annually for health promotion and prevention initiatives through VicHealth and the state’s network of community health services, the $32 million for the Improving Rural Health Outcomes initiative in the 2020-21 Budget, to prevent, treat and improve recovery from cardiac, stroke and cancer conditions and other investments tackling smoking and obesity.

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