Further information
For further information on this project, please contact W/Prof Sandra Thompson or Dr Judy Katzenellenbogen.
Research investigators (Chief Investigators)
- W/Prof Sandra Thompson, CUCRH UWA
- Dr Judith Katzenellenbogen, CUCRH UWA
- E/Professor Michael Hobbs
- Assoc Professor Frank Sanfilippo
- Professor Elizabeth Geelhoed
- Associate Professor Dawn Bassarab, AHERU Curtin
- Professor Peter Thompson
- Dr Angela Durey, AHERU Curtin
External Collaborations
- Dr Marianne Woods, RPH, Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service
- Asst Professor Pamela Bradshaw, SPH UWA
- Professor Patricia Davison, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, UTS
- Ms Lyn Dimer, Heart Foundation WA
- W/Professor Joe Hung School of Medicine and Pharmacology UWA
- W/Professor Matthew Knuiman
- Dr Andrew Maiorana, School of Physiotherapy, Curtin
- Mr Trevor Shilton, Heart Foundation WA
- Mr Peter Somerford, Epidemiology, WA DoH
- Dr Tiew-Hwa Teng, Emergency Medicine UWA
- Dr Tim Leahy, GP, Heart Foundation and Notre Dame
NHMRC Early Career Fellow
Dr Judith Katzenellenbogen, CUCRH UWA
Staff
Asst/Professor Derrick Lopez, CUCRH UWA
This project will analyse detailed epidemiological, service utilisation and costing information on a range of heart and associated chronic disease in Aboriginal Western Australians and engage regional Western Australian Aboriginal planning forums, policy makers, health service managers and funders. Stakeholder understanding of the evidence and their response will be investigated with the aim of facilitating changes that improve Aboriginal heart health.
Indigenous people have a life expectancy 10-14 years shorter than non-Indigenous Australians, with cardiovascular diseases explaining 23% of the differential in disease burden. Cardiovascular disease disparities are relected in substantially higher Aboriginal mortality and hospitalisation rates, as well as high prevalence of classical risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
There are limited reliable estimates of health costs relating to cardiovascular diseases in Aboriginal people, but reports from the AIHW indicate that Aboriginal people have appreciably greater use of health services for cardiovascular diseases, but despite this there have been no improvements in health differentials.
Project aims
- To describe and compare the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of CHD, chronic heart failure (CHF), dysrhythmias and major co-morbid conditions including diabetes and CKD in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in WA.
- To compare (using hospitalisation data) access of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to acute and continuing medical care for heart diseases, focussing on acute and chronic CHD, CHF and cardiac dysrhythmias.
- To describe health care service utilisation and direct costs for heart diseases in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in WA as the basis for future studies of cost-effectiveness of public health and clinical interventions to improve cardiovascular health in Aboriginal people.
- To investigate the responses of health decision-makers to epidemiological and cost information about Aboriginal inequalities in CHD care and outcomes. This component incorporates dissemination of findings and studying barriers within the system around research translation.
Funding
This project is funded by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia:
- NHMRC - Project grant number 1031057
- NHMRC - Early Career Fellowship 1037429
University information
CRICOS Code: 00126G
