Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples compared with other Australians are: * 2.6 times as likely to die from heart, stroke and vascular diseases; * 19 times as likely to die from acute rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic; * two to three times as likely to be hospitalised for coronary heart disease and heart failure; * six to eight times as likely to be hospitalised for acute rheumatic fever and chronic rheumatic disease; * more likely to smoke, have high blood pressure, be obese, have diabetes, drink alcohol at harmful levels, and have end-stage renal disease.