This study will follow up over 12,000 men aged 65-83 years who have previously completed a questionnaire about their medical, social, family and occupational history and lifestyle and have undergone a simple physical examination (height, weight, waist, girth at the hips and blood pressure). The first aim is to determine which of these factors predicts serious ill-health from heart disease, stroke and certain cancers in old age. In addition, we will test the hypothesis that risk factors for heart ....This study will follow up over 12,000 men aged 65-83 years who have previously completed a questionnaire about their medical, social, family and occupational history and lifestyle and have undergone a simple physical examination (height, weight, waist, girth at the hips and blood pressure). The first aim is to determine which of these factors predicts serious ill-health from heart disease, stroke and certain cancers in old age. In addition, we will test the hypothesis that risk factors for heart disease also predict the development of dementia because it seems that part of dementia in some patients is explained by their having suffered multiple small strokes. Finally, we will examine the relationship between development of dementia and previous major surgery as there is growing evidence that major surgical operations in older patients can be followed by confusion and impairment of thinking that may never recover fully. The overall aim is to discover preventable factors for several of the leading causes of ill-health in old age.Read moreRead less
Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation And Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Busselton
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,300.00
Summary
The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic synd ....The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease may be on the increase and therefore so too could diabetes and heart disease which already consume significant health resources. Using the unique health data collection of the Busselton Health Study in Western Australia, this project will help to determine how common these conditions are in Australia and lead to a better understanding of the nature and causes of these conditions including the possible role of chronic inflammation. This important information will be used to provide opportunities for better risk assessment, disease prevention, and earlier intervention.Read moreRead less
The Real And Changing Atherothrombotic Disease Burden And Secondary Prevention
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$507,387.00
Summary
Absolute numbers of Australians with diseased narrowed blood vessels in the heart, brain or leg are increasing, dominating health priorities and expenditure. By linking Department of Health datasets, without identifying individual's, trends in hospital admissions, prescription of chronic protective medications and the cost consequences to the health system among and across conditions will be determined. The findings will provide quality measures of hospital care and inform quality improvement
Inter-relationships Between Life-stage Transitions, Depression And Cardio-metabolic Health In Young Adults
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,325.00
Summary
This study will investigate how social transitions and depression in young Australian adults affect the development of obesity and the adoption or persistence of behaviours that are associated with the risk of heart disease and diabetes. These behaviours include smoking, poor diet, physical inactivity and alcohol consumption. A better understanding of how psychosocial factors influence risk factors for heart disease and diabetes is needed to improve prevention strategies.
Adaptations Of Methods For Estimation Of Familial Correlation In Age At Onset Of Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$146,250.00
Summary
Chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer and non-insulin dependent diabetes are responsible for a significant burden of ill-health in society. Studies of familial aggregation are important in determining the relative magnitude of genetic and lifestyle-environment factors associated with chronic diseases, and in identifying individuals and families at high risk, even in the absence of conventional risk factors. The findings have implications for health promo ....Chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer and non-insulin dependent diabetes are responsible for a significant burden of ill-health in society. Studies of familial aggregation are important in determining the relative magnitude of genetic and lifestyle-environment factors associated with chronic diseases, and in identifying individuals and families at high risk, even in the absence of conventional risk factors. The findings have implications for health promotion in the general population and disease prevention in those identified to be at high risk. An outstanding characteristics of these studies is that many participants had an event at some unknown time before the entry. This project aims at adapting current methods to properly account for events before entry and to provide estimates of familial aggregation between parents, between children and between parents and children in the same model. Furthermore, it provides freely available software for proper familial analyses which have not had any feasible numerical methods (or software). In addition, it provides estimates of familial aggregation of coronary heart disease in Busselton families which has longer follow-up than most other studies. This project is very cost effective as the Busselton Health Study consists of a series of cross-sectional surveys since 1968 and currently has hospital morbidity and death follow-up from medical record linkage until the end of 1997.Read moreRead less
Follow Up Of The 1985 Australian Schools Health And Fitness Survey Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,309,456.00
Summary
This study provides a unique opportunity to follow up a cohort of children on which an extensive range of physical and lifestyle measures were made in 1985. This study has the capacity to find out whether childhood lifestyle and physical measures are related to the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other common health problems in adulthood.
Genetic Factors That Predispose Low Birth Weight Babies To Increased Risk Of Hypertension And IGT.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,440.00
Summary
Recent research internationally has revealed that development of the fetus during pregnancy is related to later risk of hypertension and diabetes. Low birth weight infants have higher risk. While research has shown that this can't entirely be explained by genes, it is possible that some genes amplify the effect of low birth weight. This project seeks to identify such genes by examining a set of likely candidates. The targeting of these genes has been based on the knowledge that hypertension and ....Recent research internationally has revealed that development of the fetus during pregnancy is related to later risk of hypertension and diabetes. Low birth weight infants have higher risk. While research has shown that this can't entirely be explained by genes, it is possible that some genes amplify the effect of low birth weight. This project seeks to identify such genes by examining a set of likely candidates. The targeting of these genes has been based on the knowledge that hypertension and diabetes are generally more common in populations that have evolved in the tropics and have more melanin pigment in their skin. The focus in this study, therefore, is on genes that are known to be more common in these populations and also appear to affect risk of blood pressure and diabetes.Read moreRead less
EFFECT OF EBV AND HHV-6 LATENT INFECTION OR REACTIVATION ON MS ACTIVITY: A PROSPECTIVE CLINICAL COHORT STUDY
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$263,845.00
Summary
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a severely debilitating neurodegenerative disease, affecting over 16,000 Australians. There is a need to examine which factors drive the progression of this disease. We examine the role of two viral infections on MS activity. It has the potential to contribute to antiviral interventions that might prevent relapses and-or decrease the clinical progression of this debilitating disease.
A Five Year Follow-up Of People With Type 2 Diabetes & Other States Of Glucose Intolerance And Associated Risk Factors
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,677,855.00
Summary
The Australian Prospective Diabetes Study (APDS) is a 5 year follow-up study established to examine the natural history of diabetes and its complications, as well as heart disease and kidney disease. It is a follow-up to the recently completed AusDiab study and addresses some of the important gaps that exist nationally and internationally in the understanding of the burden of Type 2 diabetes and related problems. AusDiab found that 1 in 4 Australians aged 25 years and over has either diabetes or ....The Australian Prospective Diabetes Study (APDS) is a 5 year follow-up study established to examine the natural history of diabetes and its complications, as well as heart disease and kidney disease. It is a follow-up to the recently completed AusDiab study and addresses some of the important gaps that exist nationally and internationally in the understanding of the burden of Type 2 diabetes and related problems. AusDiab found that 1 in 4 Australians aged 25 years and over has either diabetes or a condition of impaired glucose metabolism (this condition is associated with substantially increased immediate risk of heart disease as well as increased risk of diabetes in the future). This new study-APDS, will be the first Australian and indeed international study of its type. We intend to invite 7000 out of the original 11,247 AusDiab sample to participate. Participants who agree to take part in the follow-up study will be involved in 2 ways: 1. A 6-12 monthly contact with participants by telephone or mail to allow reporting of changes in health and utilisation of health services. 2. A 5 year biomedical follow-up survey. This will involve a survey team travelling around Australia to test the participants for diabetes, heart and kidney disease and cardiovascular risk factors (e.g. blood pressure and cholesterol). It will accurately define how many Australians are likely to develop diabetes (as well as kidney and heart disease) in the future, and who is at highest risk. It is expected that outcomes from this study will provide crucial information for both planning and testing public health policy and for the appropriate allocation of resources including specific treatments of individuals and specific groups with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes and its complications within the Australian population.Read moreRead less
Follow-up Study Of Indigenous Adults In North Queensland: Chronic Diseases And Sexual Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,493,700.00
Summary
This study aims to follow up a cohort of Indigenous adults in rural and remote north Queensland communities who participated in the Well Persons Health Check (funded by OATSIH) during 1998-2000. Out of the 2,862 Indigenous participants, 2,503 (87.5%) agreed to have another Check in a few years time. A follow-up study is proposed for the consenting WPHC participants (any any other adults who wish to participate). This study will have 5 main objectives: 1. Estimate the incidence rate of chronic di ....This study aims to follow up a cohort of Indigenous adults in rural and remote north Queensland communities who participated in the Well Persons Health Check (funded by OATSIH) during 1998-2000. Out of the 2,862 Indigenous participants, 2,503 (87.5%) agreed to have another Check in a few years time. A follow-up study is proposed for the consenting WPHC participants (any any other adults who wish to participate). This study will have 5 main objectives: 1. Estimate the incidence rate of chronic disease conditions (diabetes, renal disease, CVD) and the main determinants of these in the north Queensland cohort (It is expected that Torres Strait Islanders will have different patterns to Aborigines), 2. Estimate the change over a 5 year period in risk factors and complications (including hospitalisations) of those with existing chronic conditions 3. At a community level, evaluate the effectiveness of local interventions aimed at health improvement (e.g. one community has drastically changed rules about alcohol availability, other communities have significantly improved the supply of fresh fruit and vegetables, still others have commenced family savings programs which improve the availability of money over the week and enable savings to buy fridges etc). 4. Estimate whether the early detection of chlamydia and gonorrhoea (using routine urine PCR testing) has lowered the community prevalence of bacterial STIs, and 5. Evaluate the effectiveness of local health promotion programs (e.g. tobacco control initiatives, healthy weight programs). The study will be undertaken in collaboration with Apunipima Cape York Health Council, the Torres Strait Health Council and relevant local community organisations. It will involve skills development for local Indigenous researchers and practitioners. Results will be given back to communities and individuals, with opportunities for further planning.Read moreRead less