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Chronic Diseases In Aboriginal Australians: A Cohort Study With 20 Years Of Follow-up In A Remote Community
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,842.00
Summary
Our aims are to estimate lifetime risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and renal failure, and to assess the long term effects of early life risk factors on those conditions in Aboriginal Australians. Long term follow-up is crucial to investigate the natural history of chronic disease and their early life risk factors. A cohort in a remote Aboriginal community has been established since 1992. To achieve the aims of this project, we propose to extend the follow-up of this cohort to 20 years.
Waist Circumference And Absolute Risks Of Chronic Diseases: Evidence For Establishing Waist Circumference Cutoffs For Aboriginal Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$356,978.00
Summary
The gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians is unacceptable. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure are major diseases contributing to such a gap. Waist circumference is an important risk marker of those chronic diseases for health promotion and intervention. However, cutoff values for Aboriginal Australians are lacking, which limits its use in this population. In this project, we will provide evidence of multiple sources for establishing appropriate cutoff v ....The gap in life expectancy between Indigenous and other Australians is unacceptable. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and kidney failure are major diseases contributing to such a gap. Waist circumference is an important risk marker of those chronic diseases for health promotion and intervention. However, cutoff values for Aboriginal Australians are lacking, which limits its use in this population. In this project, we will provide evidence of multiple sources for establishing appropriate cutoff values for Aboriginal people.Read moreRead less
ARDAC (Antecedents Of Renal Disease In Aboriginal Children) Follow-up Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$298,268.00
Summary
Indigenous people world-wide have higher rates of kidney failure than non-Indigenous people. Aboriginal Australians have the highest rates of kidney failure in the world, especially in those living in remote areas. The reasons for this are complex, and include well-known environmental risk factors that contribute to many diseases in Aboriginal people - socio-economic disadvantage, higher rates of infection, smoking, alcohol abuse and poor nutrition. There are also biological risk factors more sp ....Indigenous people world-wide have higher rates of kidney failure than non-Indigenous people. Aboriginal Australians have the highest rates of kidney failure in the world, especially in those living in remote areas. The reasons for this are complex, and include well-known environmental risk factors that contribute to many diseases in Aboriginal people - socio-economic disadvantage, higher rates of infection, smoking, alcohol abuse and poor nutrition. There are also biological risk factors more specific to kidney disease such as low birth weight babies, reduced kidney volume, female sex, family history of kidney disease, genetic influences, over and under-nutrition and high blood pressure. Many of these risks may take effect in childhood, resulting in silent kidney damage that may become chronic in adulthood when diabetes and other influences take effect. In order to clarify the degree of risk early influences have on Aboriginal kidney disease before adult confounders complicate the picture, a unique study of early signs of kidney disease in outwardly healthy Aboriginal children was planned. These school children come from different locations across NSW, and have a non-Aboriginal comparator group. The first primary aims are complete: To determine: 1. Rates of blood and protein in the urine, and high blood pressure in Aboriginal as compared to non-Aboriginal children. These are the early markers, or antecedents of kidney disease; 2. If these antecedents differ over urban, coastal, rural and remote regions, and socio-economic areas; 3. Any association between antecedents and other risk factors such as age, gender, birth weight and growth; Secondary aims are currently underway: To determine: 1. The natural history of these antecedents of kidney disease by following these children for a further 4 years; 2. Which risk factors are more likely in children with persisting antecedents -ie the children more likely to develop serious kidney disease.Read moreRead less
Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study: From Childhood To Adulthood.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$505,212.00
Summary
Aboriginal peoples have poor health at both ends of their life span. There are more low birth weight babies at the beginning and more kidney, heart disease and diabetes at the end of the life spectrum. The Aboriginal Birth Cohort study aims to examine the effect of early life events (such as low birth weight) on the risk of developing chronic disease in later life with a view to early intervention. The babies of the study were last seen at 11 years and are now being seen again near their 18th bi ....Aboriginal peoples have poor health at both ends of their life span. There are more low birth weight babies at the beginning and more kidney, heart disease and diabetes at the end of the life spectrum. The Aboriginal Birth Cohort study aims to examine the effect of early life events (such as low birth weight) on the risk of developing chronic disease in later life with a view to early intervention. The babies of the study were last seen at 11 years and are now being seen again near their 18th birthday. Data available are weight, length and gestational age of these babies at birth, the health and lifestyle of their mothers during pregnancy and the children's growth and health. By 11 years of age, the low birth babies still remained shorter and thinner than their peers who were normal size at birth, but importantly, markers of chronic disease were not higher in these children. The current round of investigation, in addition to the tests done before, now includes non-invasive markers of heart disease, such as heart rate variability, measures of arterial stiffness and the thickness of carotid intima media (lining) and a dental examination looking at both teeth and gums. For the first time, the study will look beyond the physical to examine the psychological wellbeing of these young adults using a specially designed questionnaire (Strong souls). Little is known about this age group because they are relatively healthy and do not present to clinics for treatment. The continuing life course study of this cohort, forming the oldest and largest birth cohort of any indigenous population in the world, will help us understand the relationships between early life and the sequential events that lead to chronic adult disease. This will help determine the most effective time for intervention programmes, and will influence public health planning and policy directed towards the improvement of the health of Aboriginal peoples.Read moreRead less