Dr Judith Katzenellenbogen

Exploring associations between life course geo-social exposures and rheumatic heart disease in Great Britain

Burden of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and impact of prevention strategies: comprehensive evidence to drive the RHD Endgame

Left ventricular remodelling in rheumatic heart disease – trends over time and implications for follow-up in childhood

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common form of acquired heart disease worldwide. In RHD, volume loading from mitral regurgitation leads to left ventricular (LV) dilatation, increased wall stress, and ultimately LV dysfunction. Improved understanding of LV dynamics may contribute to refined timing of intervention.

A Review of Cardiac Surgical Procedures and Their Outcomes for Paediatric Rheumatic Heart Disease in Western Australia

Surgical intervention is an important treatment modality for advanced rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This study aimed to describe patient characteristics and outcomes from cardiac surgery for RHD in patients referred to the only tertiary paediatric hospital in Western Australia. 

Rheumatic heart disease mortality in Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians between 2010 and 2017

To generate contemporary age-specific mortality rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians aged <65 years who died from rheumatic heart disease between 2013 and 2017, and to ascertain the underlying causes of death of a prevalent RHD cohort aged <65 years who died during the same period.

The Allure of Big Data to Improve Stroke Outcomes: Review of Current Literature

To critically appraise literature on recent advances and methods using "big data" to evaluate stroke outcomes and associated factors.

Can the CHA2 DS2 -VA schema be used to decide on anticoagulant therapy in Aboriginal and other Australians with non-valvular atrial fibrillation?

The Australasian guidelines recommend use of the CHA2 DS2 -VA schema to stratify ischaemic stroke risk in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (N-VAF) and determine risk thresholds for recommending oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy. However, the CHA2 DS2 -VA score has not been validated in a representative Australian population cohort with N-VAF, including in Aboriginal people who are known to have a higher age-adjusted stroke risk than other Australians.

Occurrence and timely management of problems requiring prompt intervention among Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous Australian palliative care patients: A multijurisdictional cohort study

Anticipation and prompt relief of symptoms among patients with a life-limiting illness is a core element of palliative care. Indigenous Australians commonly encounter cultural barriers in healthcare that may impair outcomes. The Palliative Care Outcomes Collaboration collects patient care data for the purposes of continuous quality improvement and benchmarking, with each recorded care episode divided into phases that reflect a patient's condition.

Understanding valvular heart disease in the dental setting

Limited evidence is available regarding dentists' knowledge and interpretation of infective endocarditis (IE) prophylaxis guidelines. The aim of this study was to determine understanding and management of rheumatic and non-rheumatic valvular heart disease (VHD) in the dental setting in Western Australia (WA).

Ending rheumatic heart disease in Australia: the evidence for a new approach

The RHD Endgame Strategy: the blueprint to eliminate rheumatic heart disease in Australia by 2031 (the Endgame Strategy) is the blueprint to eliminate rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Australia by 2031. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people live with one of the highest per capita burdens of RHD in the world.

Symptom-related distress among indigenous Australians in specialist end-of-life care: Findings from the multi-jurisdictional palliative care outcomes collaboration data

These findings provide reassurance of reasonable equivalence of end-of-life outcomes for Indigenous patients who have been accepted for specialist palliative care

Rheumatic heart disease in pregnancy: Profile of women admitted to a Western Australian tertiary obstetric hospital

This retrospective study assessed maternal and perinatal outcomes for women with rheumatic heart disease admitted to the largest tertiary obstetric hospital

Differences in stroke risk and cardiovascular mortality for Aboriginal and other Australian patients with atrial fibrillation

Stroke risk and cardiovascular mortality are markedly higher for Aboriginal than non-Aboriginal patients with atrial fibrillation, particularly for patients under 60

Factors Associated With 90-Day Readmission After Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack: Linked Data From the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry

Apart from comorbidities and patient-level characteristics, readmissions after stroke/transient ischemic attack were associated with discharge destination

Priorities for improved management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

The results suggest that timely injection and patient education are priorities for managing ARF and RHD, particularly focusing on child-to-adult transition care

General practitioners’ perceptions of their communication with Australian Aboriginal patients with acquired neurogenic communication disorders

GPs report difficulty recognising acquired communication disorders and their lack of prioritising assessment and treatment of communication ability after brain injur

The end rheumatic heart disease in Australia study of epidemiology (ERASE) project: Data sources, case ascertainment and cohort profile

The ERASE Project has created an unprecedented linked administrative database on acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in Australia

Public health and economic perspectives on acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease

Efforts to eliminate ARF and RHD in Australia over the past decade have so far been unsuccessful, but this can change

Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous Australian patients at entry to specialist palliative care: Cross-sectional findings from a multi-jurisdictional dataset

Indigenous patients are substantially underrepresented in care by services participating in the nationwide specialist palliative care

Low positive predictive value of International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes in relation to rheumatic heart disease: a challenge for global surveillance

We outline a series of research initiatives to improve identification of RHD in administrative data thereby contributing to monitoring the RHD burden globally

Environmental and social determinants of acute rheumatic fever: a longitudinal cohort study

Prevention strategies in ARF endemic settings may be enhanced by targeting new members entering a community and children in environments of close contact

Delay in commencement of palliative care service episodes provided to Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients

Although the timeliness benchmark is being met for Indigenous Australians in palliative care, they may experience delayed initiation of care episodes

Missing Voices: Profile, Extent, and 12-Month Outcomes of Nonfatal Traumatic Brain Injury in Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Adults in Western Australia

These findings suggest an urgent need for multisectoral primary prevention of traumatic brain injury

Excess stroke incidence in young Aboriginal people in South Australia: Pooled results from two population-based studies

The excess stroke incidence in Aboriginal South Australians appears substantial, especially in those aged <55 years

Rheumatic heart disease: infectious disease origin, chronic care approach.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a chronic cardiac condition with an infectious aetiology, causing high disease burden in low-income settings.

The rationale for action to end new cases of rheumatic heart disease in Australia

The choice of RHD is telling: the disease is a marker of inequality, a novel lens for considering health systems and a feasible target for disease control.

Development of the Aboriginal Communication Assessment After Brain Injury (ACAABI): A screening tool for identifying acquired communication disorders in Aboriginal Australians.

Acquired communication disorders (ACD), following stroke and traumatic brain injury, may not be correctly identified in Aboriginal Australians

Rheumatic heart disease across the Western Pacific: not just a Pacific Island problem

We aimed to review RHD burden in Western Pacific Region outside Oceania to identify countries with high RHD burden

Secondary preventive medication use in a prevalent population-based cohort of acute coronary syndrome survivors

Longer time since last acute coronary syndrome admission was associated with dispensing fewer medications types and combinations in 2008

Improving cardiovascular outcomes among Aboriginal Australians: Lessons from research for primary care

Primary care practitioners have an important role in improving Aboriginal cardiovascular care outcomes

Addressing the challenges of cross-jurisdictional data linkage between a national clinical quality registry and government-held health data

Describing the challenges of obtaining state and nationally held data for linkage to a non-government national clinical registry

Knowledge translation lessons from an audit of Aboriginal Australians with acute coronary syndrome presenting to a regional hospital

This audit is used as a case study of translating knowledge processes in order to identify the factors that support equity-oriented knowledge translation.

Missing voices: Profile and extent of acquired communication disorders in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adult stroke survivors in Western Australia

The needs of Aboriginal stroke patients with acquired communication disorder should inform appropriate service design for speech pathology and rehabilitation

Study Protocol: Missing Voices – Communication Difficulties after Stroke and Traumatic Brain Injury in Aboriginal Australians

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians experience stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) with much greater frequency than non-Aboriginal Australians