Improving heart disease risk assessment in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people using the CRISP cohort study
Project Lead
Dr Elizabeth Barr, Menzies School of Health Research
Project Team
Prof Louise Maple-Brown, Menzies School of Health Research; Prof Alex Brown, The South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Prof David Peiris, The George Institute for Global Health
Project Summary
Problem
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, with 1 in 4 impacted, often co-existing with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. CVD is more prevalent in females (59%) than males (41%) and appears at a much younger age in these populations compared to the general Australian population. Current CVD risk algorithms fail to effectively identify high-risk individuals, particularly among younger adults and women, leading to missed opportunities for early intervention and prevention
Solution
This project aims to enhance early detection of CVD among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by improving CVD risk algorithms. The CRISP consortium has evaluated various algorithms and identified the Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association algorithm as the most effective. However, further research is needed to refine these algorithms. The study will utilise data from approximately 5000 men and women, with a median follow-up of 14 years, across five cohorts from WA, NT, and QLD. The goal is to develop new CVD risk calculators that accurately identify high-risk individuals, particularly those currently missed by existing clinical assessments. These calculators will be integrated into primary health policy and practice.
Impact
Improving CVD risk algorithms will enable earlier identification and management of high-risk individuals, leading to better preventative care, including tailored lifestyle and nutrition advice and appropriate medication prescriptions. This project provides high-quality evidence to inform clinical and policy decisions, aiming to reduce the significant health disparity in CVD outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. The integration of new risk calculators into primary health software ensures widespread adoption and impact, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes and reduced CVD incidence in these communities.