Aerobic Exercise To Improve Cardiovascular And Neurological Health Outcomes In The Chronic Stroke Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$147,274.00
Summary
Physical activity is beneficial to people of all ages, to maintain heart health and brain function in relation to things like memory and complex thinking. Exercise is particularly important as we get older, especially after health problems such as heart attack or stroke, but it can be difficult to exercise safely at this time. This research project will develop an exercise program for individuals following stroke that is likely to improve fitness, heart and brain health and well-being.
Assessing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk In Aboriginal People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$73,550.00
Summary
Aboriginal Australians have higher death rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than other Australians, with rates in young and middle aged people increased 15-fold or more. A multi-factor approach, which considers all the risk factors, is the best strategy to identify and reduce CVD risk. The first step for selection of risk-reduction therapy in an individual is to assess his-her risk status and the benefit of intervention. Several risk assessment tools, incorporating traditional risk factors, ....Aboriginal Australians have higher death rates from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than other Australians, with rates in young and middle aged people increased 15-fold or more. A multi-factor approach, which considers all the risk factors, is the best strategy to identify and reduce CVD risk. The first step for selection of risk-reduction therapy in an individual is to assess his-her risk status and the benefit of intervention. Several risk assessment tools, incorporating traditional risk factors, have been developed from Western populations. They would be most appropriately applied to individuals who resemble the study sample; their validity in Aboriginal Australians has not been evaluated and no risk prediction formulae have been developed specifically for Aboriginal people. Recent reports suggest that a variety of other non-traditional risk factors also influence CVD risk, including markers of central fat deposition, inflammation, nutrition, alcohol use and early growth. Given the disadvantaged circumstances of many Aboriginal people, it is likely that some of the factors are influencing their CVD risk. The applicants have collected baseline risk factor data on volunteers in one Aboriginal community and followed their course, including CVD deaths and CVD hospitalisations, for more than a decade. From this baseline information, which goes beyond traditional risk markers, and from additional measures like birthweight, and markers of inflammation and nutrition assayed in retrieved serum, we will develop a variety of models for predicting a CVD risk in this group. We will also lay plans to evaluate these tools in other Aboriginal groups. A better understanding of the causes of CVD in this population is important to influence public health policy for CVD prevention. The models will be helpful health education tools at the community level and will allow therapeutic or lifestyle intervention in individuals to be targeted at their individual risk profile.Read moreRead less
The Epidemiology, Healthcare Utilisation, Treatment Pathways And Patient Outcomes For Burn Injuries In Western Australia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$404,579.00
Summary
The aims of this research proposal are to investigate the patterns of burn injury, health service utilisation, economic costs, treatment pathways, and outcomes for all patients hospitalized with burn injury in Western Australia for the period 1999-2008. An important focus will also be on the developing preventative injury education strategies. The proposal outlines a new collaborative initiative between the Burn Service of WA and the WA Centre for Population Health Research at Curtin University.
Osteoporosis is a major and increasing public health problem. Fracture, the ultimate consequence of osteoporosis is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic costs. The Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study, starting in 1989, with over 2000 women and men, is one of the longest running epidemiological studies in osteoporosis worldwide. It has been at the forefront of epidemiological advances in osteoporosis. It has identified osteoporotic fracture risks including low bone dens ....Osteoporosis is a major and increasing public health problem. Fracture, the ultimate consequence of osteoporosis is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and economic costs. The Dubbo Osteoporosis Epidemiology Study, starting in 1989, with over 2000 women and men, is one of the longest running epidemiological studies in osteoporosis worldwide. It has been at the forefront of epidemiological advances in osteoporosis. It has identified osteoporotic fracture risks including low bone density and bone loss, muscle weakness and postural instability, as well as the extent of the problem in men, and the significant costs, ill-heath and mortality associated with fracture. Despite the clarification of risk factors over the past decade, there are significant gaps in knowledge about osteoporosis, particularly in the accurate prediction of fracture risk and in identification of factors related to fracture-associated mortality and survival post fracture. Although bone density is one of the best predictors of fracture risk, it incompletely discriminates between those who will fracture from those who will not. Although a number of clinical risk factors, and other measures of bone strength, such as quantitative ultrasound and geometry, have been shown to be independent predictors of fracture risk, it is not clear that these measures can be integrated with BMD to improve fracture prediction. The aim of the current study, is to develop and validate models using bone density, other measures of bone strength and clinical parameters that will more accurately predict fracture risk and mortality following fracture in older men and women. The more precise identification of those at high risk of fracture and at risk for poor outcomes following fracture will provide a rational basis for the development of more cost effective interventions for prevention of fracture and its associated morbidity and mortality.Read moreRead less
Using Novel Causal Inference Approaches To Improve Decision-making In Infectious Diseases Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$76,365.00
Summary
Health care professionals face challenges in infectious diseases(ID) treatment and control from rapid spread of drug-resistant pathogens. Most evidence has come from randomised clinical trials (RCT); however, these are expensive to run, and their generalisability has been questioned. Causal inference methods are available to address this issue, but the uptake of these methods in ID has been limited. This study aims to utilise these epidemiological modelling to enhance the quality of future RCTs.
Biostatistical Innovation And Capacity Building To Advance Child Health And Life-course Epidemiology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$470,144.00
Summary
Biostatistics is a critical component of health and medical research. The proposed program of novel biostatistical research into methods for analysing incomplete data, an extensive portfolio of collaborative research in infant development, and establishment of a national biostatistics network, will facilitate my ongoing leadership in this critical discipline as well as enhancing the international standing of biostatistics in Australia.
Prof. Simes will lead and develop research at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre in collaboration with major national and international cooperative groups. Research themes include integrating molecular science with trial design and embedding research routinely in health care. Projects include surgery for rectal cancer; novel targeted therapy in gastric cancer; aspirin to prevent colon cancer; placental transfusion for preterm babies; risk in heart disease; economic assessment of clinical trials.
The Victorian Centre For Applied Biostatistics (VCAB): Building Core Methodological Capacity For Population Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,497,184.00
Summary
Biostatistics is the scientific discipline that focusses on the methods used to design and analyse research studies on human health. Doctors and other researchers conduct increasingly complex studies to identify best approaches for the prevention and treatment of disease, and these studies must be underpinned by sound biostatistical methods. This Centre will develop a critical mass of expertise in this under-resourced area around a program of methodological research, translation and training.
The purpose of this partnership project is to assess the impact of the four-hour rule policy in reducing access block and its effects of Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding on patients before and after its implementation. We will examine the trends and characteristics of patients under the policy in WA hospitals and compare them with similar patients not under the policy. This is a unique opportunity due to a natural experiment occurring in Australia with implications at the national and inte ....The purpose of this partnership project is to assess the impact of the four-hour rule policy in reducing access block and its effects of Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding on patients before and after its implementation. We will examine the trends and characteristics of patients under the policy in WA hospitals and compare them with similar patients not under the policy. This is a unique opportunity due to a natural experiment occurring in Australia with implications at the national and international levels.Read moreRead less