Retinal Vascular Signs As Risk Markers For Incident Stroke Or Cerebrovascular Death: A Population-based Assessment
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$410,199.00
Summary
Stroke remains a major cause of disability and death in Australia. Preliminary data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study suggest that blood vessel changes observed in the retina at the back of the eye may provide signs of an increased risk of stroke or death from stroke. Importantly, although stroke is strongly associated with elevated blood pressure, the risk associated with these blood vessel signs seems to be independent of blood pressure. The proposed study will conduct a detailed re-grading of ....Stroke remains a major cause of disability and death in Australia. Preliminary data from the Blue Mountains Eye Study suggest that blood vessel changes observed in the retina at the back of the eye may provide signs of an increased risk of stroke or death from stroke. Importantly, although stroke is strongly associated with elevated blood pressure, the risk associated with these blood vessel signs seems to be independent of blood pressure. The proposed study will conduct a detailed re-grading of retinal photographs taken on people who attended the Eye Study during 1992-4 and 5-year follow-up exams during 1997-9. We will grade these photographs manually (using a stereo-viewer), and with computer assistance to measure changes in the diameter of small arteries in the retina and other signs. By closely matching our grading technique to that used in a large American Study, we hope to develop reliable grading for these signs and will be able to compare our findings internationally. Our aim is to assess the frequency of abnormal retinal vessel changes in people of different age groups as well as the development and progression of these signs over time. Their relationship to well known vascular risk factors like smoking, blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and cholesterol will also be investigated. We hope to be able to discriminate those changes associated with an increased stroke risk from those due to normal ageing. We expect that the increased stroke risk associated with abnormal retinal vessel changes may be greater than shown in our early data. If confirmed, then these findings may provide a more sensitive and objective measure of stroke risk than relying on traditional risk factors, which are difficult to quantify and change with time. We may be able to develop simple rules so that doctors using an ophthalmoscope or examining a retinal photograph could identify high risk patients. These people could benefit from interventions to reduce their risk.Read moreRead less
Risk Factors For Chronic Respiratory Diseases In Middle Age: 36-year Follow-up Of The Tasmanian Asthma Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$358,750.00
Summary
This project will improve our understanding of the causes of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) in adults. CRDs are clearly a major public health problem, but there are no good data on the natural history and risk factors for these diseases. Regular follow-up through childhood to adulthood is the best method to examine these factors, but such data is lacking due to difficulties in conducting long-term studies. The Tasmanian Asthma Study (TAS), based on 8,585 Tasmanians (i.e. probands) born in 1 ....This project will improve our understanding of the causes of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) in adults. CRDs are clearly a major public health problem, but there are no good data on the natural history and risk factors for these diseases. Regular follow-up through childhood to adulthood is the best method to examine these factors, but such data is lacking due to difficulties in conducting long-term studies. The Tasmanian Asthma Study (TAS), based on 8,585 Tasmanians (i.e. probands) born in 1961, is one of the worlds most important resources of such information. The probands, their parents (16,267) and siblings (21,044) were first investigated for respiratory problems in 1968. Subsequently, three follow-up surveys were carried out at ages 13 (1974), 20 (1981) and 31 (1992) on either the total or sub-samples of the probands. In 1992, the children and spouses of the probands were also surveyed. Information on all respiratory problems was collected in all the follow-ups, although the main focus of the TAS to date has been asthma. The probands are now reaching the age at which all CRD as a group are beginning to inflict an increasing disease burden, which will become greater in the next two decades. Hence, TAS now provides an ideal opportunity to examine the potential risk factors and natural history of and of CRDs using data collected to date and new data collected at age 43. Also, it will provide a platform for future studies to investigate the progression of CRDs in this cohort. Hence, we propose to carry out the 36 year follow-up of this cohort focusing on CRDs. This will provide important information for preventing chronic respiratory morbidity and disability in the future, which will be original and significant not only in Australia but also internationally.Read moreRead less
Epidemiology Of Middle-age BHR: A Prospective Study From Childhood To Middle Age
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$593,840.00
Summary
Increased airway reactivity (BHR) in middle-age increases the risk of chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) in old age, which are recognised as a major public health problem. Knowledge on the causes of these conditions is currently limited. This project will improve our understanding of the childhood and adult causes of increased reactivity of the airways in middle-age. Such knowledge will help in identifying preventive strategies for middle age BHR and thereby CRDs in old age.