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
Metabolic Syndrome, Inflammation And Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease In Busselton
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$351,300.00
Summary
The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic synd ....The metabolic syndrome is a clustering of obesity, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It could affect up to 30% of the population and often leads to diabetes and heart disease. Fatty liver disease is a chronic liver condition that often has no symptoms but can lead to serious liver damage. It could affect up to 25% of the population and is common even in people who drink very little alcohol. The rising prevalence of obesity in Australia suggests that the metabolic syndrome and fatty liver disease may be on the increase and therefore so too could diabetes and heart disease which already consume significant health resources. Using the unique health data collection of the Busselton Health Study in Western Australia, this project will help to determine how common these conditions are in Australia and lead to a better understanding of the nature and causes of these conditions including the possible role of chronic inflammation. This important information will be used to provide opportunities for better risk assessment, disease prevention, and earlier intervention.Read moreRead less
Chronic Gastrointestinal Symptoms And Diabetes Mellitus: Risk Factors And Mechanisms
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$271,527.00
Summary
Why many people with diabetes mellitus are afflicted by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms remains uncertain. Irreversible damage to the nerves controlling the gut (autonomic neuropathy) is often considered to be important. An alternative cause of increased GI symptomatology in diabetics is poor glucose control. Some studies have shown that acute shifts in glucose levels induce changes in the gut relevant to the onset of GI symptoms. For example, high glucose levels acutely cause slower stomach empt ....Why many people with diabetes mellitus are afflicted by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms remains uncertain. Irreversible damage to the nerves controlling the gut (autonomic neuropathy) is often considered to be important. An alternative cause of increased GI symptomatology in diabetics is poor glucose control. Some studies have shown that acute shifts in glucose levels induce changes in the gut relevant to the onset of GI symptoms. For example, high glucose levels acutely cause slower stomach emptying times, leading to feelings of fullness. Though the effects of chronic glucose levels are yet to be properly explored, population data show that poor control in the long-term is related to an increase in symptoms. The aim of this prospective study is to determine the roles played by both autonomic neuropathy and glucose control in the development of GI symptoms among diabetics. All past research has been cross-sectional, and so cannot tell us if one or both of these factors cause GI problems in diabetes. For example, it is possible that autonomic neuropathy causes an increase in GI symptoms such as nausea and fullness, which in turn induces poor glucose control though lack of appetite or inadequate stomach emptying. Upon study inclusion, all study participants will undergo a series of autonomic tests. At 3 month intervals for a period of 30 months, they will be asked to complete a 2-week diary card detailing their GI symptoms and glucose readings, and also supply blood and urine samples for analysis twice each year. Two years from the study outset, participants will again complete the autonomic test series. Psychiatric co-morbidity will be investigated using the Composite Diagnostic Interview (CIDI-Auto) at the autonomic testing time points. The study will be undertaken at the Gastroenterology Research Unit at Nepean Hospital, in collaboration with the Royal Adelaide Hospital, centres with proven track records in diabetes investigation.Read moreRead less
Follow Up Of The 1985 Australian Schools Health And Fitness Survey Cohort
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,309,456.00
Summary
This study provides a unique opportunity to follow up a cohort of children on which an extensive range of physical and lifestyle measures were made in 1985. This study has the capacity to find out whether childhood lifestyle and physical measures are related to the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other common health problems in adulthood.
Dietary Antioxidants And Fatty Acids And Heart Disease Risk In Southern European Migrants And Indigenous Australians
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$304,002.00
Summary
The aim in this research program is to learn more about how nutrition, particularly different types of dietary fat and antioxidants from fruit and vegetables, can affect the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Data from Indigenous Australians known to be at high risk for these conditions, as well as Greek and Italian migrants to Australia, with low risk for cardiovascular disease, will be analyzed.
Genetic Factors That Predispose Low Birth Weight Babies To Increased Risk Of Hypertension And IGT.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$95,440.00
Summary
Recent research internationally has revealed that development of the fetus during pregnancy is related to later risk of hypertension and diabetes. Low birth weight infants have higher risk. While research has shown that this can't entirely be explained by genes, it is possible that some genes amplify the effect of low birth weight. This project seeks to identify such genes by examining a set of likely candidates. The targeting of these genes has been based on the knowledge that hypertension and ....Recent research internationally has revealed that development of the fetus during pregnancy is related to later risk of hypertension and diabetes. Low birth weight infants have higher risk. While research has shown that this can't entirely be explained by genes, it is possible that some genes amplify the effect of low birth weight. This project seeks to identify such genes by examining a set of likely candidates. The targeting of these genes has been based on the knowledge that hypertension and diabetes are generally more common in populations that have evolved in the tropics and have more melanin pigment in their skin. The focus in this study, therefore, is on genes that are known to be more common in these populations and also appear to affect risk of blood pressure and diabetes.Read moreRead less