The use of cardiac valve procedures for rheumatic heart disease in Australia; a cross-sectional study 2002-2017.

BACKGROUND: Australia, although a high income economy, carries a significant burden of rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and RHD are endemic in the Indigenous population. Immigrants from low/lower-income countries ('non-Indigenous high-risk') are also at increased risk compared with 'non-Indigenous low-risk' Australians. This study describes the utilisation of surgical and percutaneous procedures for RHD-related valve disease among patients aged less than 50 years, from 2002 to 2017. METHODS: A descriptive study using data from the 'End RHD in Australia: Study of Epidemiology (ERASE) Project' linking RHD Registers and hospital inpatient data from five states/territories, and two surgical databases. Trends across three-year periods were determined and post-procedural all-cause 30-day mortality calculated. RESULTS: A total of 3900 valves interventions were undertaken in 3028 procedural episodes among 2487 patients. Over 50% of patients were in the 35-49 years group, and 64% were female. Over 60% of procedures for 3-24 year-olds were for Indigenous patients. There were few significant changes across the study period other than downward trends in the number and proportion of procedures for young Indigenous patients (3-24 years) and 'non-Indigenous/low risk' patients aged ≥35 years. Mitral valve procedures predominated, and multi-valve interventions increased, including on the tricuspid valve. The majority of replacement prostheses were mechanical, although bioprosthetic valve use increased overall, being highest among females <35 years and Indigenous Australians. All-cause mortality (n = 42) at 30-days was 1.4% overall (range 1.1-1.7), but 2.0% for Indigenous patients. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of cardiac valve procedures, and 30-day mortality remained steady across 15 years. Some changes in the distribution of procedures in population groups were evident. Replacement procedures, the use of bioprosthetic valves, and multiple-valve interventions increased. The challenge for Australian public health officials is to reduce the incidence, and improve the early detection and management of ARF/RHD in high-risk populations within Australia.

Validation study of GRACE risk scores in indigenous and non-indigenous patients hospitalized with acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Although cardiovascular disease is the major cause of premature death among Indigenous peoples in several advanced economies, no acute coronary syndrome (ACS) risk models have been validated in Indigenous populations. We tested the validity and calibration of three Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) scores among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. METHODS: GRACE scores were calculated at admission or discharge using clinical data, with all-cause deaths obtained from data linkage. Scores for GRACE models were validated for; 1) in-hospital death, 2) death within 6 months from admission or 3) death within 6 months of discharge (this also for 1 and 5-years mortality). RESULTS: Aboriginal patient were younger (62 % aged <55 years versus 15 % non-Aboriginal) and their median GRACE scores lower than non-Aboriginal patients, as was crude mortality at 6 months from admission (6 % vs 10 %) and at 1 and 5 years. After age stratification, risk scores for Aboriginal patients were equivalent or higher, especially among those aged <55 years. There was a trend to more deaths after discharge among Aboriginal patients in each age group, suggesting an age-related under-estimation of risk. The c-statistics for the three GRACE models within both groups were between 0.75 and 0.79. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated for the first time that while the discriminatory capacity of GRACE risk scores among Indigenous Australians is good, the models may need re-calibrating to improve risk stratification in this and other Indigenous groups, where age of onset of coronary disease is much younger than among the original reference population.

Life expectancy after implantation of a first cardiac permanent pacemaker (1995-2008): A population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Research suggests that survival among the recipients of a cardiac permanent pacemaker (PPM) matches the age- and sex-matched general population in the absence of cardiovascular disease. We used linked administrative data to examine life expectancy-based outcomes for adults requiring a cardiac PPM. METHODS: Population-level hospital admissions data were used to identify all recipients of an initial PPM during 1995-2008. Expected years of additional life remaining at the time of implantation were calculated for each patient from population life tables. Observed years were calculated using linked mortality data to end 2011. Cox regression was used to determine demographic and clinical predictors of survival. RESULTS: In 8757 patients age-adjusted risk of death to 5 years was associated with male sex, higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score (excluding cardiac disease), a history of heart failure, cardiomyopathy or atrial fibrillation and emergency admission. Coronary revascularisation surgery reduced long-term risk. The observed/expected ratio of additional years of life was 0.80 for men and 0.84 for women overall, varying from 0.92 for women without significant comorbidity to 0.40 for patients with the highest Charlson score and cardiomyopathy. The oldest patients (80-99 years) did relatively well, probably reflecting patient selection. Heart disease was the most frequent cause of death. CONCLUSIONS: Life expectancy among PPM recipients without significant comorbidity approached that of the general population. Greater non-cardiac comorbidity, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and, in particular, cardiomyopathy, contributed most to the loss of expected years of life in all age groups. The oldest patients and women did relatively well.

Trends in the incidence and prevalence of cardiac pacemaker insertions in an ageing population.

OBJECTIVES: To determine contemporary population estimates of the prevalence of cardiac permanent pacemaker (PPM) insertions. METHODS: A population-based observational study using linked hospital morbidity and death registry data from Western Australia (WA) to identify all incident cases of PPM insertion for adults aged 18 years or older. Prevalence rates were calculated by age and sex for the years 1995-2009 for the WA population. RESULTS: There were 9782 PPMs inserted during 1995-2009. Prevalence rose across the study period, exceeding 1 in 50 among people aged 75 or older from 2005. This was underpinned by incidence rates which rose with age, being highest in those 85 years or older; over 500/100 000 for men throughout, and over 200/100 000 for women. Rates for patients over 75 were more than double the rates for those aged 65-74 years. Women were around 40% of cases overall. The use of dual-chamber and triple-chamber pacing increased across the study period. A cardiac resynchronisation defibrillator was implanted for 58% of patients treated with cardiac resynchronisation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of insertion and prevalence of PPM continue to rise with the ageing population in WA. As equilibrium has probably not been reached, the demand for pacing services in similarly well-developed economies is likely to continue to grow.

Outcomes after first percutaneous coronary intervention for acute myocardial infarction according to patient funding source.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in the use of invasive coronary artery revascularisation procedures to manage acute myocardial infarction (AMI) have been found in several developed economies. Factors such as socio-economic status, income and funding source may influence the use of invasive procedures and have also been associated with ongoing care. The objectives of this study were to determine whether outcomes for patients at one and five years after AMI treated with first-ever percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were the same for public and privately funded patients. METHODS: Retrospective, population-based cohort study using linked data to identify 30-day survivors of AMI treated with PCI in the index admission between 1995 and 2008 in Western Australian hospitals. The main outcome measures were admission for another PCI, re-AMI, and all-cause and cardiac mortality at one and five years. RESULTS: At one year, private patients were at greater adjusted risk for another PCI (HR 1.62 [1.36 - 1.94]; p < 0.001) than public patients, and more likely to have an additional revascularisation procedure from 90 days to 5 years (HR 1.33 [1.11 - 1.58]; p < 0.001). They were at less risk for all-cause death within five years (HR 0.69 [0.62-0.91]; p = 0.01) with a trend to reduced risk for cardiac death and re-AMI. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment as a private patient for AMI with first PCI is associated with an increased likelihood of additional coronary revascularisation procedure within 12 months and to five years, and a reduced risk for all-cause mortality to 5 years. While additional procedures were not associated with poorer outcomes, there was no clear relationship between better outcomes and additional procedures. Other lifestyle and health care factors may contribute to the significant reduction in all-cause mortality and the trends to reduced hazard for AMI and cardiac death among private patients.

Use and long-term outcomes of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, 1990 to 2009.

BACKGROUND: Automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have become standard therapy for patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death. Linked data allow examination of trends in use and long-term survival after ICD implantation in an adult population. METHODS: Linked state-wide person-based data on hospital admissions and deaths from 1980 to 2009 were used to identify incident cases of ICD implantation. Population rates were calculated using census data. Kaplan-Meier techniques were used to describe cumulative survival. Cox regression models were used to determine the factors associated with the outcomes. RESULTS: Between 1988 and 2009, 1593 devices were implanted in patients in Western Australia, rising from 2 in 1988 to 245 in 2009; standardized population rates rose from 0.8 in 100000 in 1995 to 14.9 in 100000 in 2009. Mean age rose from 52.6 (SD 11.6) to 64.1 (11.4) years. Ventricular tachycardia (23%), cardiomyopathy (18%), and heart failure (16%) were the most frequent principal diagnoses. Ischemic heart disease was present in 49% of patients. Five-year cumulative survival was 0.74 (SE 0.01), and at 10 years, 0.53 (SE 0.03); median survival was 11.3 years. Readmission within a year, older age, heart failure, device complications, and chronic ischemic heart disease were associated with poorer survival. CONCLUSIONS: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use in adults at risk for sudden cardiac death has grown rapidly. Readmission within 12 months of discharge is associated with worse medium and long-term mortality. Survival for most patients younger than 65 years exceeds 10 years and 5 years for those aged ≥75 years.

Can we monitor heart attack in the troponin era? Evidence from a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Troponins (highly sensitive biomarkers of myocardial damage) increase counts of myocardial infarction (MI) in clinical practice, but their impact on trends in admission rates for MI in National statistics is uncertain. METHODS: Cases coded as MI or other cardiac diagnoses in the Hospital Morbidity Data Collection (MI-HMDC) in Western Australia in 1998 and 2003 were classified using revised criteria for MI developed by an International panel convened by the American Heart Association (AHA criteria) using information on symptoms, ECGs and cardiac biomarkers abstracted from samples of medical notes. Age-sex standardized rates of MI-HMDC were compared with rates of MI based on AHA criteria including troponins (MI-AHA) or traditional biomarkers only (MI-AHAck). RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2003, rates of MI-HMDC decreased by 3.5% whereas rates of MI-AHA increased by 17%, a difference largely due to increased false-negative cases in the HMDC associated with marked increased use of troponin tests in cardiac admissions generally, and progressively lower test thresholds. In contrast, rates of MI-AHAck declined by 18%. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing misclassification of MI-AHA by the HMDC may be due to reluctance by clinicians to diagnose MI based on relatively small increases in troponin levels. These influences are likely to continue. Monitoring MI using AHA criteria will require calibration of commercially available troponin tests and agreement on lower diagnostic thresholds for epidemiological studies. Declining rates of MI-AHA ck are consistent with long-standing trends in MI in Western Australia, suggesting that neither MI-HMDC nor MI-AHA reflect the true underlying population trends in MI.

A comparison of coronary heart disease event rates among urban Australian Aboriginal people and a matched non-Aboriginal population.

BACKGROUND: Age-specific death from cardiovascular disease among Australian Aboriginals is estimated to be four to seven times that of general population, and the major cause of premature death. There is little reliable information on the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD). This study compares CHD event rates in urban-dwelling Aboriginal people and the general population. METHODS: The Perth Aboriginal Atherosclerosis Risk Study (PAARS) cohort was assessed at baseline (1998/1999) and 913 participants followed-up to 2006. A comparison group of age-matched, sex-matched and postcode-matched non-Aboriginals (n=3582) were selected from the Perth, Western Australia, Electoral Roll. Electronic record linkage captured prior CHD and first CHD events in both groups. The rates of first CHD events (hospital admission or CHD death) per 1000 person years (PY) and incidence rate ratios (IRR) were calculated. RESULTS: The event rate for the PAARS population was 14.9 per 1000 PY (95% CI 12.3 to 18.2) versus 2.4 (1.9 to 3.1) for the general population. The IRR was 6.1 (4.5 to 8.4). For Aboriginal men the rate was 15.0 (11.2 to 20.0) versus 3.8 (2.5 to 5.0) per 1000 PY, with age-specific rates being two to five times that of non-Aboriginals. Incidence for Aboriginal women was 15.0 (11.5 to 19.5) versus 1.4 (0.9 to 2.1) with age-specific rates being 8-25 times that of non-Aboriginals. CONCLUSIONS: Age and sex-specific CHD event rates in urban Aboriginals far exceeded that of a matched general population. Events occurred at a much younger age among the Aboriginal participants and were equally excessive among men and women.

The use of coronary revascularisation procedures in urban Australian Aboriginals and a matched general population coronary procedures in Aboriginals.

BACKGROUND: Coronary revascularisation procedures may be under-used for Aboriginal Australians with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). We compared the use of procedures in an urban Aboriginal population and a non-Aboriginal external comparison group. METHODS: The Perth Aboriginal Atherosclerosis Risk (PAARS) cohort (n=998) and 3695 age- and sex-matched non-Aboriginals were electronically linked to Western Australian hospital morbidity data to identify admissions and revascularisation procedures between 1980 and 2006. RESULTS: There were 731 admissions for IHD for 983 PAARS participants with hospital admissions and 391 in 3150 non-Aboriginals. There were 136 first procedures overall; 43% of Aboriginals having a procedure were women versus 18.5% of non-Aboriginals. 41% of Aboriginal patients and 48% of non-Aboriginals had procedures (p=0.12). Aboriginals were more likely to have coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) (40.5%) than a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), compared to the general population (23%, p=0.02). The proportion of first procedures for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) admissions was 61% for both groups, 80% and 85%, respectively, being PCI. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary revascularisation procedures for IHD were used with equal frequency in Aboriginal people and matched non-Aboriginals. Aboriginal people were more likely to have CABG than PCI. Revascularisation rate and type in ACS admissions were the same.

Measuring the gap: accuracy of the Western Australian hospital morbidity data in the identification of adult urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity of the recording of Aboriginality in the Western Australia Linked Data. METHODS: This was a follow-up study using record linkage. Demographic data was obtained from 993 adult, urban-dwelling Aboriginal Australian participants in the Perth Aboriginal Atherosclerosis Risk study (PAARS). These were linked to the Western Australian Linked Data (State-wide hospital admissions and discharges, and deaths) to provide the number of admissions and Indigenous status coding from 1980 to 2006. RESULTS: There were 14,413 admissions for PAARS participants in the study period. The sensitivity of coding of Indigenous status in hospital admissions data significantly improved over time, exceeding 0.9 in every year since 2002. Prior to 2002 sensitivity was around 0.8, but poorer for males, with some anomalous years. CONCLUSIONS: The coding of Indigenous status in the Western Australia Hospital Morbidity Database since 2002 has improved. The data from earlier decades must be approached with more caution. IMPLICATIONS: The improved accuracy of identification of Indigenous status in the Western Australia Hospital Morbidity Database allows comparative studies of adult Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population health outcomes to be undertaken with confidence.

Coronary heart disease events in Aboriginal Australians: incidence in an urban population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) events in an urban Aboriginal population. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Cohort study of 906 Aboriginal people without CHD from 998 who had undergone risk-factor assessment in the Perth Aboriginal Atherosclerosis Risk Study (PAARS) in 1998-1999. PAARS cohort data were electronically linked to a range of databases that included Western Australian hospital morbidity data and death registry data. We analysed data from January 1980 to December 2006 to identify previous admissions for CHD from 1980 to baseline (1998-1999) and new events from baseline to 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: First CHD event (hospital admission or death). RESULTS: There were 891 linked records for the 906 participants without previous CHD. The event rate was 12.6/1000 person-years (95% CI, 10.2-15.6/1000 person-years). Annual CHD event rates ranged from 8 to 18/1000 person-years. After adjustment for age (sex was not associated with the risk factors assessed), factors associated with risk of a CHD event in the PAARS cohort were a history of diabetes, overweight or obesity (indicated by body mass index), smoking, and hypertension, but not waist circumference. People with these risk factors were 1.9-2.7 times more likely to experience a CHD event. Compared with previously published information from a remote Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory, the incidence of CHD events among urban-dwelling Aboriginal people was not significantly different (P > 0.05 overall and for subgroups defined by age and sex). CONCLUSIONS: City-dwelling Aboriginal Australians have an incidence of CHD events comparable to that of Aboriginal people living in remote northern Australia.

Validation of the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk index for predicting early mortality in a population-based cohort of STEMI and non-STEMI patients.

BACKGROUND: The Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk index for the prediction of 30-day mortality was developed and validated in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were being treated with thrombolytics in randomized clinical trials. When tested in clinical registries of patients with STEMI, the index performed poorly in an older (65 years and older) Medicare population, but it was a good predictor of early death among the more representative population on the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction-3 and -4 databases. It has not been tested in a population outside the United States or among non-STEMI patients. METHODS: The TIMI risk index was applied to the Enhanced Feedback for Effective Cardiac Treatment (EFFECT) study cohort of 11,510 acute MI patients from Ontario. The model's discriminatory capacity and calibration were tested in all patients and in subgroups determined by age, sex, diagnosis and reperfusion status. RESULTS: The TIMI risk index was strongly associated with 30-day mortality for both STEMI and non-STEMI patients. The C statistic was 0.82 for STEMI and 0.80 for non-STEMI patients, with overlapping 95% CI. The discriminatory capacity was somewhat lower for patients older than 65 years of age (0.74). The model was well calibrated. CONCLUSIONS: The TIMI risk index is a simple, valid and moderately accurate tool for the stratification of risk for early death in STEMI and non-STEMI patients in the community setting. Its routine clinical use is warranted.

Determinants of carotid intima-medial thickness in an urban Australian Aboriginal population.

INTRODUCTION: We studied the determinants of carotid atherosclerosis in urban-dwelling Australian Aboriginals at high risk of atherosclerotic mortality and morbidity. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of self-selected adult Australian Aboriginals. Participants (n=602) aged 18-74 years had risk factor assessment and carotid ultrasound to determine carotid intima-medial thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaque. The upper quartile (>0.71 mm in males and >0.62 mm in females) was used as a measure of increased carotid IMT. RESULTS: Over 80% of participants were overweight or obese; the prevalence of diabetes was 25%. Age was the major predictor of thick IMT, OR 3.0 (95% CI 2.0-4.5) per decade for males and OR 6.3 (3.3-12.0) for females. Waist circumference and blood glucose were independent predictors of IMT for men, with hypertension, pack-years of smoking, diabetes, and cholesterol ratio additional predictors for women. Plaque was highly prevalent (>40%) in this relatively young population and was predicted by increasing age, a history of smoking and total cholesterol/HDL ratio, but not sex. CONCLUSIONS: Urban-dwelling Aboriginal Australians are at increased risk for early atherosclerosis. In this study an excess of obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors were the important contributors to increased IMT carotid atherosclerosis, but not inflammatory markers or other novel risk factors.

Asymptomatic long-term survivors of coronary artery bypass surgery enjoy a quality of life equal to the general population.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among long-term survivors of coronary artery bypass surgery is an important outcome that has been little studied at the population level. METHODS: A postal survey was conducted in 1999 to 2000 in patients 6 to 20 years after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in Western Australia. A random stratified sample of 2500 was drawn from 8910 patients who had their first CABG surgery in 1980 to 1993. Health-related quality of life was measured with Short Form 36 and EuroQol visual analogue scale. RESULTS: Response was 82% (n = 2061). Health-related quality of life declined with age and was similar for men and women, although scores for women were worse for physical functioning. Compared with Australian population norms, the age- and sex-standardized scores of survivors of CABG were generally worse, mainly in the physical domain. Reported angina at the time of follow-up (33%), symptoms of heart failure equivalent to New York Heart Association (NYHA) classes II to IV (34%), and comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension were associated with poorer HRQOL. For both men and women without angina or heart failure at follow-up, HRQOL was no different from that of the general population. CONCLUSION: Overall, the quality of life among long-term survivors of CABG is worse than that of the general population, the difference being mainly attributable to recurrent symptoms and comorbidities. Quality of life for those without angina or heart failure at follow-up was equivalent to the population norms, providing an incentive to maximize efforts to abolish angina and ameliorate heart failure symptoms.

Return to work after coronary artery bypass surgery in a population of long-term survivors.

BACKGROUND: Return to paid employment may be facilitated by coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. We assessed work status in a population-based study of long-term outcomes of CABG. AIM: To determine the association between returning to work after CABG and clinical and socio-demographic factors. METHODS: A postal survey of 2,500 randomly selected patients 6-20 years post-CABG. The outcomes assessed were work status in the year before and after CABG and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measured with SF-36. RESULTS: Response was 82% (n = 2,061). Employment fell from 56% in the year prior to CABG to 42% in the year after. Workers in 'blue-collar' occupations were more likely to reduce their work status than those in 'white collar' occupations (46% versus 29%, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of reducing employment were increasing age (9% per year, 99% CI: 1.06-1.11, p < 0.001), 'blue-collar' versus 'white collar' occupation (OR: 2.1, 99% CI: 1.4-3.1) and female sex (OR: 2.1, 99% CI: 1.1-3.6). HRQOL among participants under 60 years of age at follow-up was better for those who returned to work after CABG surgery. CONCLUSION: CABG surgery is followed by a net loss to paid employment of working age patients which increases with age, and is more likely for those in blue-collar occupations and women.

Preventing recurrent events long term after coronary artery bypass graft: suboptimal use of medications in a population study.

BACKGROUND: There are few population-based data on long-term management of patients after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), despite the high risk for future major vascular events among this group. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of pharmacotherapy for prevention of new cardiac events in a large population-based series. METHODS: A postal survey was conducted of 2500 randomly selected survivors from a state population of patients 6 to 20 years after first CABG. RESULTS: Response was 82% (n = 2061). Use of antiplatelet agents (80%) and statins (64%) declined as age increased. Other independent predictors of antiplatelet use included statin use (odds ratio [OR] 1.6, 95% CI 1.26-2.05) and recurrent angina (OR 1.6, CI 1.17-2.06). Current smokers were less likely to use aspirin (OR 0.59, CI 0.4-0.89). Statin use was associated with reported high cholesterol (OR 24.4, CI 8.4-32.4), management by a cardiologist (OR 2.3, CI 1.8-3.0), and the use of calcium channel-blockers. Patients reporting hypertension or heart failure, in addition to high cholesterol, were less likely to use statins. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were the most commonly prescribed agents for management of hypertension (59%) and were more frequently used among patients with diabetes and those with symptoms of heart failure. Overall 42% of patients were on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and 36% on beta-blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Gaps exist in the use of recommended medications after CABG. Lower anti-platelet and statin use was associated with older age, freedom from angina, comorbid heart failure or hypertension, and not regularly visiting a cardiologist. Patients who continue to smoke might be less likely to adhere to prescribed medications.

Cardiovascular risk among urban Aboriginal people.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of a program for detecting high cardiovascular risk in an urban Aboriginal community. DESIGN: Cardiovascular risk assessment program conducted between January 1998 and October 1999. Participants completed a questionnaire and underwent a physical assessment and biochemical tests. PARTICIPANTS: 738 self-selected members of the Perth Aboriginal community (332 men, 406 women; age range, 18-79 years). RESULTS: The participants represented approximately a fifth of the Perth Aboriginal population aged 25-64 years (those aged 18-24 years comprised < 5% of Aboriginals aged 15-24 years in Perth). Eighty-four per cent fell within National Heart Foundation "high risk" or "highest risk" categories for cardiovascular disease; 15% of men and 6% of women had an absolute risk of a cardiovascular event of over 15% within 10 years. A high proportion of participants reported diabetes, hypertension, smoking, overweight and obesity. A fasting plasma glucose level indicative of diabetes or impaired fasting glucose was found in 8.6% (95% CI, 6.2%-11%) of people not previously known to have diabetes. Obesity and smoking were twice as prevalent in study participants as in the general population. Less than a third of subjects with hypertension and diabetes had attained recommended target levels for blood pressure reduction or glycaemic control, and only a third of those at high risk and one in six of those at highest risk had attained recommended lipid-level targets. CONCLUSIONS: A cardiovascular risk assessment program with strong community support in an urban Aboriginal population can identify a significant number of people with high cardiovascular risk who are candidates for intensive risk-factor reduction strategies.