Is The Incidence Of Heart Attack Still Decreasing In Australia? Developing More Reliable Methods For Monitoring Trends In Myocardial Infarction And Coronary Heart Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$762,021.00
Summary
Our study is a collaboration between the University of WA and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to investigate population trends in incidence and outcomes of heart disease and its major sub-groups including heart attack, angina and chest pain. Using linked data from WA, we will identify the sub-groups for which trends over time are a realistic estimate of the true population trends. These will be applied to national data to monitor heart disease more accurately in Australia.
Vaccination Timeliness In Aboriginal And Non-Aboriginal Infants: Risk Factors For Delayed Vaccination And Impact On Disease Burden—a Record Linkage Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$538,183.00
Summary
Vaccination has had a significant impact, but preventable infections continue to occur, perhaps due to delayed uptake of scheduled doses. For the first time, we will link vaccination and other health records to: provide accurate estimates of the impact of vaccination; identify reasons for delayed vaccination; and quantify the expected reduction in disease burden if vaccination timeliness was improved. The study will help determine who would benefit most from efforts to improve timeliness.
A National Population-based Genetic Epidemiology, Biospecimen And Bioinformatic Resource
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,900,000.00
Summary
This proposal is to build a new national resource for medical research. The project will integrate human medical research resources (including DNA) in WA with the core WA Data Linkage System, with complementary initiatives in bioinformatics and biostatistics. The resulting unique facility will comprise one of the largest and best-characterised population-based enabling facilities for epidemiological and genetic epidemiological research in the world, and will considerably enhance the national res ....This proposal is to build a new national resource for medical research. The project will integrate human medical research resources (including DNA) in WA with the core WA Data Linkage System, with complementary initiatives in bioinformatics and biostatistics. The resulting unique facility will comprise one of the largest and best-characterised population-based enabling facilities for epidemiological and genetic epidemiological research in the world, and will considerably enhance the national research capacity.Read moreRead less
Use And Adequacy Of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening: A Whole Population Linked Data Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$219,382.00
Summary
Diabetes and its health complications are major public health issues presently facing Australia. Currently, around 7% of Australians have diabetes and it is estimated that 300 million people will be diabetic within 20-years. One major complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, which is the most common cause of blindness in working-age adults. Although early treatment can prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, often there are no visual symptoms until the condition is more advanced ....Diabetes and its health complications are major public health issues presently facing Australia. Currently, around 7% of Australians have diabetes and it is estimated that 300 million people will be diabetic within 20-years. One major complication of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy, which is the most common cause of blindness in working-age adults. Although early treatment can prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, often there are no visual symptoms until the condition is more advanced and less treatable. Consequently, it is vital that people with diabetes have their eyes examined regularly. We aim to investigate the use of eye services by people with diabetes. The WA Data Linkage System provides the unique opportunity to efficiently examine the benefits of specialist eye care in diabetics within WA over a 17-year period. The study period encompasses the introduction of NHMRC guidelines for diabetic retinopathy screening in 1997. This will enable us to examine the effectiveness of these guidelines in increasing ophthalmic services use by people with diabetes. Evaluating these trends will provide important data on the effectiveness of policy and NHMRC guidelines in improving diabetic eye care, which has never been comprehensively investigated. Early intervention can prevent and delay vision loss from diabetic retinopathy, substantially reducing the personal and community burden from diabetes. The identification of poorly screened groups will enable more targeted programs to improve the use of ophthalmic series, which in turn may reduce the risk of: i) eye surgery related to diabetes, ii) injury resulting from diabetes-related vision disorder or iii) blindness. The feasibility of using linked health data to evaluate eye screening in diabetics will enable future work addressing processes of care in the prevention of other diabetic complications to be undertaken quickly and cost-effectively.Read moreRead less
Increasing Global And National Knowledge About Illicit Drug Use, Harms And Effective Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
This Fellowship aims to increase global and national knowledge about drug use and related harms, and interventions to prevent harm and improve public health. It will create new knowledge that will be used by UN and international agencies, and national governments, to monitor changes in drug use and harms, and guide policy and planning for drug treatment and harm reduction services.
The WA Safety And Quality Of Surgical Care Project: Improving The Safety, Quality And Provision Of Surgical Care.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$583,500.00
Summary
The basis of this application is a three-year project which aims to improve the safety, quality and the provision of surgical care. This application constitutes the core of the WA Safety and Quality of Surgical Care Project (SQSCP), which was established in 1996 to evaluate the clinical epidemiology, health care utilisation, patient safety and health outcomes following admission to hospital for specific surgical and medical procedures in Western Australia (WA). The study will use data from the W ....The basis of this application is a three-year project which aims to improve the safety, quality and the provision of surgical care. This application constitutes the core of the WA Safety and Quality of Surgical Care Project (SQSCP), which was established in 1996 to evaluate the clinical epidemiology, health care utilisation, patient safety and health outcomes following admission to hospital for specific surgical and medical procedures in Western Australia (WA). The study will use data from the WA Data Linkage System, which brings together 15 million records from hospital morbidity, death, cancer, midwives notification and mental health databases. Surgical procedures have been selected for review based on national priorities and after consultation with the WA Branch of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and other clinical Colleges. This application proposes to continue the core research activities of the SQSCP. A special focus will be on the use of minimally invasive surgical techniques including laparoscopic, endoscopic and endoluminal procedures, which have increased dramatically during the last decade. The study will also evaluate differences in the outcomes of surgical care in rural and metropolitan settings. The findings of the SQSCP will be comprehensively disseminated to surgeons, the RACS, hospital managers, health policy makers and consumers. The rationale of this project is that by providing high quality data on the epidemiology, utilisation and outcomes of surgical care, we will be able to increase the knowledge-base that will contribute to improvements in the safety, quality and provision of surgical care in Australia and internationally. The aims of the SQSCP are consistent with national health priorities and the recommendations of the Taskforce on Quality of Australian Health Care Study, the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care and the National Institute of Clinical Studies.Read moreRead less
A Population Based Linked Data Analysis Of The Prognostic Determinants Of Out Of Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$174,000.00
Summary
Heart disease, resulting in a cardiac arrest, is the largest single cause of death for men and women in Australia, accounting alone for almost a quarter of all deaths. Despite the scope of the problem, there is a paucity of objective data about the factors that determine outcomes in the short-term and long-term. This study will capitalise on the unique research potential of the WA Data Linkage Project to combine the WA Cardiac Arrest Register with existing health service data and death records, ....Heart disease, resulting in a cardiac arrest, is the largest single cause of death for men and women in Australia, accounting alone for almost a quarter of all deaths. Despite the scope of the problem, there is a paucity of objective data about the factors that determine outcomes in the short-term and long-term. This study will capitalise on the unique research potential of the WA Data Linkage Project to combine the WA Cardiac Arrest Register with existing health service data and death records, to describe the outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Perth WA. Both morbidity and mortality will be described and compared to patients with similar health conditions, but who do not experience a cardiac arrest. More specifically this study will address questions such as 'what is the effect of age, gender, pre-existing illness and socio-economic status on survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?' and What is the long-term survival and health status for initial survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest?' This project will both identify those factors associated with best outcome as well as identify a profile of persons who are 'at risk' of experiencing a further cardiac arrest. Such information is important for the evaluation of current resuscitative practices as well as providing the basis for future planning initiatives.Read moreRead less
Using Total Population Data To Describe The Characteristics Of Respiratory Infections In Order To Predict Future Epidemics And Recommend Vaccination Strategies For Western Australian Children
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$294,892.00
Summary
Respiratory infections are a major reason for children to go to hospital. I am an epidemiologist and I will be using previously collected and linked laboratory and hospital data from Western Australian children to better understand how these infections flow through the population over different seasons. I will then be able to predict future epidemics of respiratory infections and how different vaccine programs might have an impact in reducing how many children are affected by these infections.
Morbidity, Mortality And Health Service Use Among Criminal Offenders: A Western Australian Population-based Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,750.00
Summary
This study will focus on the health of criminal offenders, as a most likely marginalised and neglected section of the community, in order to identify areas of need that if addressed will possess benefits for both offenders and the general community. A research team will apply their public health, criminology and forensic psychology expertise, in partnership with the WA Police Service, to provide information on the health outcomes and health service use of adult offenders in WA. Four themes will ....This study will focus on the health of criminal offenders, as a most likely marginalised and neglected section of the community, in order to identify areas of need that if addressed will possess benefits for both offenders and the general community. A research team will apply their public health, criminology and forensic psychology expertise, in partnership with the WA Police Service, to provide information on the health outcomes and health service use of adult offenders in WA. Four themes will be explored: (1) Health Status, to estimate the prevalence of overall and cause-specific hospital-treated morbidity (2) Mortality, to estimate the prevalence of overall and cause-specific mortality, (3) Health Service Use, focussing on both the rate of primary and secondary health service use; and (4) Inequalities In Health Outcomes, firstly comparing the health outcomes of adult offenders with the general WA population, and secondly, comparing the health outcomes of adult offenders based on sanction severity and custodial setting. This investigation is one of only a few worldwide to study health among criminal offenders. Offenders are a neglected section of the Australian health system. Responding to their needs is not possible without an understanding of their health outcomes and the disparities that exist. An important public health opportunity therefore exists to investigate the health of this socially disadvantaged group. This study will provide more detailed data regarding offender-health than currently exists internationally or nationally. Results can be used by health and-or justice administrators as indicators of program and service performance, and potentially lead to improved collaboration between these sectors. The methods used for outcome evaluation can be used readily for the routine evaluation of health performance indicators for offenders.Read moreRead less