ARF RHD Guidelines 3.1.0

The burden of rheumatic heart disease exemplifies a significant healthcare disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Data from 2013 to 2017 indicate that 94% of all new cases during this period occurred among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.

This application serves as a practical tool for clinicians involved in the diagnosis and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. Developed by RHDAustralia at the Menzies School of Health Research, it incorporates current evidence and provides detailed guidance on various aspects of patient care. The app is aligned with the 2020 Australian guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and management of acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (3rd edition), accessible at https://www.rhdaustralia.org.au/arf-rhd-guideline.

A notable feature of the application is the ARF Diagnosis Calculator, which simplifies complex diagnostic algorithms into a series of straightforward questions, facilitating clinical decision-making. These algorithms adhere to the 2015 revision of the Jones Criteria by the American Heart Association, endorsed by the World Heart Federation, thereby enabling its use in clinical settings globally.