Check blood glucose, urine albumin levels to monitor heart disease risk in Indegenous communities

Researchers from the University of South Australia and Queensland Health’s Tropical Public Health Unit followed up on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who took part in the Well Person’s Health Check, a screening and referral service for people in 26 remote Indigenous communities in far north Queensland, between 1998 and 2000.

They identified 1,706 participants who were free of coronary heart disease at the time of the original screening, and found that 121 deaths and hospitalisations due to coronary heart disease had been recorded by January 2006.

“Rates increased with age, but there was substantial illness (14 events) in participants aged 15-34 years at baseline,” Professor Robyn McDermott said.

The traditional risk factors – body mass index, smoking, blood pressure, and lipid levels – each accounted for a small increase in the risk of coronary heart disease.

“The stand-out risk predictors for the study population appeared to be albuminuria and glycaemia, which were highly prevalent at baseline in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants,” Prof McDermott said.

“High fasting glucose levels and albuminuria found during routine adult health checks should, therefore, be actively managed and monitored, even in the absence of overt diabetes.

“They can be measured simply, lend themselves to cardioprotective interventions, and should be used routinely to estimate risk and monitor effectiveness of treatment.”

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.

The statements or opinions that are expressed in the MJA reflect the views of the authors and do not represent the official policy of the AMA unless that is so stated.

CONTACT:                 Professor Robyn McDermott                            0421 617 690