Predictive Models And Interventions For Coronary Heart Disease In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander People
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$203,125.00
Summary
The main causes of heart disease in western countries are smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, in indigenous populations, other factors may be more important. We propose to look at these conventional risk factors and others like diabetes, blood clotting disorders and inflammation to see which are best for predicting heart attack in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people . We will also examine the effect of heart disease prevention programs run by communities, to see ....The main causes of heart disease in western countries are smoking, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. However, in indigenous populations, other factors may be more important. We propose to look at these conventional risk factors and others like diabetes, blood clotting disorders and inflammation to see which are best for predicting heart attack in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people . We will also examine the effect of heart disease prevention programs run by communities, to see if they can improve these risk factors. Finally, we will use this information to produce educational materials and clinical tools for health services.Read moreRead less
With particular interest in developing data analysis techniques, I am an epidemiologist assessing risk factors and developing risk calculators for non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, in Aboriginal people.
What Is The Burden Of Dementia In Urban Dwelling Indigenous Australians?
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,571,527.00
Summary
The main aim of this research project is to determine what proportion of Aboriginal people aged 45 years and older who live in urban areas of NSW, have dementia. We hope to establish what types of dementia occur amongst Aboriginal people, what the causes are, and how we can best measure dementia. We will also focus on what types of problems dementia causes for both people with the condition and their carers. What is the meaning of dementia for Aboriginal people themselves?
Risk Indicators For Periodontal Disease In An Urban Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Population
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$339,191.00
Summary
There is some evidence that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults have more severe gum disease than non-Indigenous Australians. Gum diseases are important chronic diseases as they can cause tooth loss. They are also related to general health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. The ability to resist infection may be important in why people get gum disease. This study seeks to discover the factors which damage and which improve gum health in Aboriginal people.
I am a public health researcher in cardiovascular science and epidemiology evaluating programs for lowering the risk of chronic illness in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations.
The Better Environmental Health, Housing And Child Health Study (BEHHCH)
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
Many Indigenous children experience poor growth and development. The proposed project will address this problem by introducing and testing system changes to create healthy living environments. The system changes will aim to tackle concurrently a number of the key underlying causes of poor child health through improving housing conditions and reducing environmental contamination. The lessons from this research should be relevant to many remote communities
Community-Based Interventions To Reduce The Risk Of Diabetes And Cardiovascular Disease In Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,699,291.00
Summary
Poor nutrition is one of the main factors causing high rates of diabetes and heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Obesity is one of the main risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and it is associated with poor diet, lack of exercise and many social factors. Access to fresh vegetables and fruit is often difficult for indigenous people , especially in remote areas. The aim of this project is to work with indigenous communities in rural and remote areas to ....Poor nutrition is one of the main factors causing high rates of diabetes and heart disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Obesity is one of the main risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases and it is associated with poor diet, lack of exercise and many social factors. Access to fresh vegetables and fruit is often difficult for indigenous people , especially in remote areas. The aim of this project is to work with indigenous communities in rural and remote areas to plan and run programs to lower the risk of diabetes and heart disease. The programs will be designed by community members and involve health education, diet, exercise and improving availability of healthy food choices in community stores. The programs will target diabetic people and their families or, in most cases, the whole community. It is very difficult for overweight adults to lose weight permanently, so school-based programs will be run to provide health education and healthy canteen policies put in place to try and prevent excess weight gain in younger people. To see whether these programs are effective, we will measure changes over time in risk factors for diabetes and heart disease, nutrition and community support and involvement in the program. Where a community achieves even modest improvements in diet and exercise, this is likely to lead to a much lower risk of diabetes and heart disease. We will identify what factors make a program effective and sustainable over the long term. This study will help us to set up a system for introducing and monitoring similar programs in other indigenous communities. (1358 characters)Read moreRead less
The DRUID Study: Diabetes And Related Disorders In Urban Indigenous People In The Darwin Region.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,116,052.00
Summary
Indigenous Australians suffer a high burden of ill health from diabetes and related conditions, but very little is known about the burden of diabetes and its complications among Indigenous people in urban areas, and how to reduce it. Unlike Indigenous people in rural and remote areas, Indigenous people in urban areas (the majority of Indigenous Australians) have rarely been the subjects of health research and have even more rarely been the drivers of such research. The DRUID Study (Diabetes and ....Indigenous Australians suffer a high burden of ill health from diabetes and related conditions, but very little is known about the burden of diabetes and its complications among Indigenous people in urban areas, and how to reduce it. Unlike Indigenous people in rural and remote areas, Indigenous people in urban areas (the majority of Indigenous Australians) have rarely been the subjects of health research and have even more rarely been the drivers of such research. The DRUID Study (Diabetes and Related Disorders in Urban Indigenous People in the Darwin Region) is a partnership between researchers and members of the Darwin Indigenous community to: examine the health of adults aged 15 years and over; refer people with disease to appropriate health care and related services; follow people over time to collect information on the state of their health and their use of health services; and test the effectiveness of a program to improve dietary quality, increase physical activity and reduce tobacco smoking among those at highest risk for diabetes. The results will be of significant value to policy-makers, health practitioners, researchers, and, most importantly, Indigenous people and organisations. The study will provide the first-ever data on the burden of diabetes and related conditions in an urban Indigenous population. This information can be directly compared with recently collected national data from the AusDiab study, and used to inform the development and implementation of strategies for reducing the impact of diabetes and related conditions. The study will provide an important vehicle for the training and development of Indigenous researchers, and the central involvement of Indigenous people in the study will promote improved local awareness and understanding of diabetes among Indigenous people and increase the capacity of Indigenous people and service providers to manage diabetes and related disorders.Read moreRead less
A Randomised Trial Of Fish And Fruit To Improve Survival Of Aboriginal People With End Stage Renal Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$184,500.00
Summary
End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a devastating disease which affects Aboriginal Australians disproportionately: The average survival time for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is 3.6 years from the onset of kidney failure, compared to 12.3 years for non-Aboriginal people. There has been a dramatic rise in incidence of kidney failure over the past 20 years, with the prevalence doubling every 4-5 years in many NT communities and other remote parts of Australia. Mortality for patients wi ....End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a devastating disease which affects Aboriginal Australians disproportionately: The average survival time for Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is 3.6 years from the onset of kidney failure, compared to 12.3 years for non-Aboriginal people. There has been a dramatic rise in incidence of kidney failure over the past 20 years, with the prevalence doubling every 4-5 years in many NT communities and other remote parts of Australia. Mortality for patients with ESRD is approximately 5 to 10 fold that of the general population, with heart disease accounting for approximately half of deaths. The aims of this study are to determine whether a dietary intervention of fish and fruit three times a week will decrease cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients on haemodialysis in Darwin and Alice Springs. There is a strong scientific rationale for this simple dietary intervention. Fish are a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids, believed to reduce the risk of heart attack . Fruit is a good source of anti oxidants and other chemicals that may amplify the beneficial effects of fish. This simple combination is also practical to include in usual clinical care. Dialysis is done three days each week, with people allocated to intervention or control groups according to the day of dialysis. Nutritional and cardiovascular status will be measured at commencement of the study and then at intervals of 3, 6 and 12 months. Strategies have been incorporated into the project design to ensure understanding, informed consent and participation of Aboriginal people in a number of domains: the participant, their family, urban and remote communities, and service providers. If successful this intervention will result in changes to the clinical management of renal patients worldwide.Read moreRead less