A Randomised Trial Of Fish And Fruit To Improve Survival Of Aboriginal People With End Stage Renal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,500.00
Summary
End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a devastating disease which affects Aboriginal Australians disproportionately: The average survival time for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is 3.6 years from the onset of kidney failure, compared to 12.3 years for non-Aboriginal people. There has been a dramatic rise in incidence of kidney failure over the past 20 years, with the prevalence doubling every 4-5 years in many NT communities and other remote parts of Australia. Mortality for patients wi ....End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a devastating disease which affects Aboriginal Australians disproportionately: The average survival time for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is 3.6 years from the onset of kidney failure, compared to 12.3 years for non-Aboriginal people. There has been a dramatic rise in incidence of kidney failure over the past 20 years, with the prevalence doubling every 4-5 years in many NT communities and other remote parts of Australia. Mortality for patients with ESRD is approximately 5 to 10 fold that of the general population, with heart disease accounting for approximately half of deaths. The aims of this study are to determine whether a dietary intervention of fish and fruit three times a week will decrease cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients on haemodialysis in Darwin and Alice Springs. There is a strong scientific rationale for this simple dietary intervention. Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, believed to reduce the risk of heart attack . Fruit is a good source of anti oxidants and other chemicals that may amplify the beneficial effects of fish. This simple combination is also practical to include in usual clinical care. Dialysis is done three days each week, with people allocated to intervention or control groups according to the day of dialysis. Nutritional and cardiovascular status will be measured at commencement of the study and then at intervals of 3, 6 and 12 months. Strategies have been incorporated into the project design to ensure understanding, informed consent and participation of Aboriginal people in a number of domains: the participant, their family, urban and remote communities, and service providers. If successful this intervention will result in changes to the clinical management of renal patients worldwide.Read moreRead less
Improving Capacity Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Communities To Influence Food Systems For Food Security
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,620,683.00
Summary
The proposed project represents a structured collaborative, continuous improvement and capacity-building approach to improving food security in remote Indigenous communities. It aims to trial a monitoring and evaluation learning approach to assist community based organisations and services to improve the food system and services they deliver to provide an affordable and healthy food supply.
Professor Hoy has conducted precedent-setting research into chronic disease, especially in high risk populations, with a focus in Australia on Indigenous health. She is a role model for work amongst Indigenous people, specifically among Aboriginal people, and her work has been very influential, particularly in the training of staff. Professor Hoy’s Australia Fellowship will be used for an expanded multidisciplinary research program targeting the prevention and management of chronic diseases in t ....Professor Hoy has conducted precedent-setting research into chronic disease, especially in high risk populations, with a focus in Australia on Indigenous health. She is a role model for work amongst Indigenous people, specifically among Aboriginal people, and her work has been very influential, particularly in the training of staff. Professor Hoy’s Australia Fellowship will be used for an expanded multidisciplinary research program targeting the prevention and management of chronic diseases in the Aboriginal population, and focusing on hypertension, kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Read moreRead less
The Relationship Of Body Composition, Renal Impairment And Inflammatory Cytokines In Indigenous Persons With Diabetes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$119,644.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians bare a disproportionate burden of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure. The metabolic syndrome (the combination of obesity, insulin-resistance, abnormal lipids, and hypertension) is a common occurrence and important risk factor for the above chronic conditions in this population. Further study of the relationship of fat distribution, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, diabetes and CKD is of benefit to understand and prevent mortality in this population.
Is Long Term Weekly Azithromycin Use For Bronchiectasis In Indigenous Children Associated With Antibiotic Resistance?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,663.00
Summary
Aboriginal children living in remote areas such as central Australia experience unacceptably high rates of respiratory infection which can become chronic. A randomised controlled trial is being conducted to see if long-term azithromycin therapy reduces respiratory exacerbations in Aboriginal children with chronic lung disease. Concerns about the development of antibiotic resistance need to be addressed. This project aims to determine if such treatment is associated with antibiotic resistance.
The DRUID Study: Diabetes And Related Disorders In Urban Indigenous People In The Darwin Region.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,116,052.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians suffer a high burden of ill health from diabetes and related conditions, but very little is known about the burden of diabetes and its complications among Indigenous people in urban areas, and how to reduce it. Unlike Indigenous people in rural and remote areas, Indigenous people in urban areas (the majority of Indigenous Australians) have rarely been the subjects of health research and have even more rarely been the drivers of such research. The DRUID Study (Diabetes and ....Indigenous Australians suffer a high burden of ill health from diabetes and related conditions, but very little is known about the burden of diabetes and its complications among Indigenous people in urban areas, and how to reduce it. Unlike Indigenous people in rural and remote areas, Indigenous people in urban areas (the majority of Indigenous Australians) have rarely been the subjects of health research and have even more rarely been the drivers of such research. The DRUID Study (Diabetes and Related Disorders in Urban Indigenous People in the Darwin Region) is a partnership between researchers and members of the Darwin Indigenous community to: examine the health of adults aged 15 years and over; refer people with disease to appropriate health care and related services; follow people over time to collect information on the state of their health and their use of health services; and test the effectiveness of a program to improve dietary quality, increase physical activity and reduce tobacco smoking among those at highest risk for diabetes. The results will be of significant value to policy-makers, health practitioners, researchers, and, most importantly, Indigenous people and organisations. The study will provide the first-ever data on the burden of diabetes and related conditions in an urban Indigenous population. This information can be directly compared with recently collected national data from the AusDiab study, and used to inform the development and implementation of strategies for reducing the impact of diabetes and related conditions. The study will provide an important vehicle for the training and development of Indigenous researchers, and the central involvement of Indigenous people in the study will promote improved local awareness and understanding of diabetes among Indigenous people and increase the capacity of Indigenous people and service providers to manage diabetes and related disorders.Read moreRead less
IMPAKT: Improving Indigenous Patients' Access To Kidney Transplantation.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$444,725.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at up to thirty times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. Almost a half of Indigenous ESRD patients come from remote regions without ESRD treatment services. People with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) need dialysis or a transplant to stay alive. Most patients from remote communities need to relocate to regional centres to receive haemodialysis. This causes profound isolation, significant community disruption and worsens survival. ....Indigenous Australians develop end-stage renal disease (ESRD) at up to thirty times the rate for non-Indigenous Australians. Almost a half of Indigenous ESRD patients come from remote regions without ESRD treatment services. People with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) need dialysis or a transplant to stay alive. Most patients from remote communities need to relocate to regional centres to receive haemodialysis. This causes profound isolation, significant community disruption and worsens survival. Transplantation is the best treatment for most people with ESRD. Compared with long-term dialysis, it is associated with a better quality of life, a longer life expectancy, and lower costs to the health-care system. Indigenous Australians are over-represented in the ESRD population, but have a significantly lower chance of receiving a transplant than non-indigenous Australians. In this research, the IMPAKT study, we aim to identify Indigenous Australians' barriers to access to renal transplantation for treatment of their ESRD, and to propose strategies to reduce disparities in Indigenous Australians' access to renal transplantation. The nephrologists who regulate access to renal transplantation in Australia are members of the research team. This should facilitate the translation of research findings into improved access to renal transplantation for Indigenous patients.Read moreRead less
Antecedents Of Renal Disease In Aboriginal Children And Young Adults - 12 Year Follow-up
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,845,061.00
Summary
Aboriginal Australians have 2 to 10 times the rate of chronic kidney disease and premature death from cardiovascular disease compared with non-Aboriginal Australians. Our 6 year follow-up of Aboriginal children from diverse NSW areas has shown no increase in risk for these diseases when compared with non-Aboriginal children. The ARDAC Second Phase Study will follow the participants for another 6 years to determine whether these health disparities start to manifest in young Aboriginal adults.
Gaining Two-way Understanding Of Recovery From Chronic And Recurring Mental Disorders In FNQ Indigenous Communities.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$110,519.00
Summary
Little is known about the rates of chronic and recurring mental illness in the Indigenous population, particularly in remote Indigenous communities. This research aims to document the extent of the problem and explore the factors that place individuals at risk of poorer mental health outcomes as well as those factors that promote resiliency and recovery in the face of such risk. In addition, the concept of recovery in mental illness will be expanded to include Indigenous views.