Clinical Trial To Determine The Effects Of Statins On Cognition: STAREE-Mind
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,795,199.00
Summary
Statins may improve brain health in older individuals but there is need for a large randomised trial to directly address this important question. This study of 10,000 community dwelling older individuals aged 70 years and over will provide crucial, high quality evidence on the effects of statins on cognitive function and dementia.
Development Of A Low-cost, Very Low-radiation Community-based Screening Method For Primary Prevention Of Cardiovascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$419,180.00
Summary
Virtually everyone's life has been affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD) in some way. There are no routine community-based tests to identify asymptomatic CVD due to current tests being invasive, expensive, time-consuming or high radiation exposure. A low cost, very low radiation test from existing machines used for osteoporosis screening can assess a measure of asymptomatic CVD. This fellowship seeks to develop this test for community-based screening strategies.
Optimising Heart Disease Prevention And Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$4,647,175.00
Summary
As we become older and risk factors such as obesity become more common, our biggest contributor to death and disability, cardiovascular disease (including heart disease), will continue to exert an enormous burden on our health care system and society. We will extend our ground-breaking research on multidisciplinary teams to create new and innovative health care programs to optimise the prevention and management of new heart disease and chronic forms of heart disease.
Address Socio-economic Variations In The Implementation Of Guidelines For Preventive Activities In Chronic Disease In General Practice
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$340,634.00
Summary
Preventing chronic disease is a critical challenge facing the Australian health care system, and the challenge to implement prevention guidelines is even greater among people living in low socioeconomic locations and from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds. The aim of this research is to examine and address socio-economic variations in the implementation of guidelines for preventive activities in chronic disease in general practice.
FAST-Australia: A Phase II Study Of Family History Screening For Chronic Disease Prevention In Primary Care.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,429.00
Summary
Risk of developing certain cancers, heart disease and diabetes is increased by having an affected family member. People found to be at risk can be offered ways to prevent or detect these diseases early through lifestyle advice or disease screening. This project will develop and evaluate a family history questionnaire in preparation for a trial of family history screening and its impact on disease prevention.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Of A General Practice Based Intervention To Prevent Chronic Vascular Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$774,357.00
Summary
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes contribute greatly to the burden of disease in Australian society. Prevention of these conditions is a high priority for the health system. There is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to prevent chronic disease in those at high risk. However the feasibility of intervening through general practice and other existing services has not been demonstrated. We have previously conducted research on a structured approach ....Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes contribute greatly to the burden of disease in Australian society. Prevention of these conditions is a high priority for the health system. There is increasing evidence for the effectiveness of interventions to prevent chronic disease in those at high risk. However the feasibility of intervening through general practice and other existing services has not been demonstrated. We have previously conducted research on a structured approach to helping patients with risk factors for chronic disease (such as smoking, poor nutrition, hazardous alcohol consumption and physical inactivity) including both cardiovascular disease and diabetes in general practice. This study aims to evaluate the impact of recalling patients to general practice for a visit to assess their risk of chronic disease and to help them to lower their risk by changes to smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and physical activity behaviours. Practices in the intervention group will receive training, practice visits, resources, and referral pathways to enable them to invite eligible patients to attend the practice for an assessment and management of their risk factors. This will include provision of education materials, support for behaviour change, referral to diet education and physical activity program and follow up. The feasibility of this type of vascular disease prevention intervention for high-risk patients has not been trialled previously in Australia. The findings of this research will help to inform Australian and State health policy especially the preventive care initiatives recently announced by the Council of Australian Governments. It will also inform practice leading to better guidelines for general practice preventive care, better support for general practice to provide preventive care for patients at risk of chronic disease and better support for patients to reduce their risk of chronic disease by changing their behaviour.Read moreRead less
Should I Take Low Dose Aspirin? The 'Optimise' Decision Aid Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,337.00
Summary
An aspirin per day reduces cancer risk as well as protecting against heart disease and stroke. It's readily available, affordable and could potentially reduce the two most common causes of death and disease in Australia. However, aspirin also increases the chance of bleeding and that needs to be weighed up against the potential benefits. The challenge for patients and their healthcare providers is personalising this evidence for the individual patient. Our study develops and tests an online tool ....An aspirin per day reduces cancer risk as well as protecting against heart disease and stroke. It's readily available, affordable and could potentially reduce the two most common causes of death and disease in Australia. However, aspirin also increases the chance of bleeding and that needs to be weighed up against the potential benefits. The challenge for patients and their healthcare providers is personalising this evidence for the individual patient. Our study develops and tests an online tool that does just that.Read moreRead less
Prevention Of Asthma In Young Children Via Immunostimulation
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$679,683.00
Summary
Persistent asthma is a major problem for Australia yet none of the current therapies do more that control the condition. The long-term solution is to prevent asthma from progressing to the persistent form. The major risk factors are: family history, early allergy and recurrent severe lower respiratory infections (sLRI) in the early life. We will conduct a randomized clinical trial to prevent sLRI using a novel bacterial-derived immunostimulant in infants at high risk of developing asthma.
Quadruple UltrA-low-dose TReamenT For HypErTension - QUARTET
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,242,865.00
Summary
High blood pressure is common and a major cause of heart disease and stroke. While many people with hypertension are on some treatment, in over half blood pressure targets are not reached and their high blood pressure is hence uncontrolled. In this research we investigate whether an approach that combines 4 types of blood pressure lowering medications at quarter doses into one pill, may be a more effective way of controlling blood pressure and doing this with few side effects.