Improving systems of care during and after a pregnancy complicated by hyperglycaemia: A protocol for a complex health systems intervention.

BACKGROUND: Many women with hyperglycaemia in pregnancy do not receive care during and after pregnancy according to standards recommended in international guidelines. The burden of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy falls disproportionately upon Indigenous peoples worldwide, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia. The remote and regional Australian context poses additional barriers to delivering healthcare, including high staff turnover and a socially disadvantaged population with a high prevalence of diabetes. METHODS: A complex health systems intervention to improve care for women during and after a pregnancy complicated by hyperglycaemia will be implemented in remote and regional Australia (the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland). The Theoretical Domains Framework was used during formative work with stakeholders to identify intervention components: (1) increasing workforce capacity, skills and knowledge and improving health literacy of health professionals and women; (2) improving access to healthcare through culturally and clinically appropriate pathways; (3) improving information management and communication; (4) enhancing policies and guidelines; (5) embedding use of a clinical register as a quality improvement tool. The intervention will be evaluated utilising the RE-AIM framework at two timepoints: firstly, a qualitative interim evaluation involving interviews with stakeholders (health professionals, champions and project implementers); and subsequently a mixed-methods final evaluation of outcomes and processes: interviews with stakeholders; survey of health professionals; an audit of electronic health records and clinical register; and a review of operational documents. Outcome measures include changes between pre- and post-intervention in: proportion of high risk women receiving recommended glucose screening in early pregnancy; diabetes-related birth outcomes; proportion of women receiving recommended postpartum care including glucose testing; health practitioner confidence in providing care, knowledge and use of relevant guidelines and referral pathways, and perception of care coordination and communication systems; changes to health systems including referral pathways and clinical guidelines. DISCUSSION: This study will provide insights into the impact of health systems changes in improving care for women with hyperglycaemia during and after pregnancy in a challenging setting. It will also provide detailed information on process measures in the implementation of such health system changes.

Diabetes care in remote Australia: the antenatal, postpartum and inter-pregnancy period.

BACKGROUND: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience high rates of diabetes in pregnancy (DIP), contributing to health risks for mother and infant, and the intergenerational cycle of diabetes. By enhancing diabetes management during pregnancy, postpartum and the interval between pregnancies, the DIP Partnership aims to improve health outcomes and reduce risks early in the life-course. We describe a mixed methods formative study of health professional's perspectives of antenatal and post-partum diabetes screening and management, including enablers and barriers to care. METHODS: Health professionals involved in providing diabetes care in pregnancy, from a range of health services across the Northern Territory, completed the survey (n = 82) and/or took part in interviews and/or focus groups (n = 62). RESULTS: Qualitative findings highlighted factors influencing the delivery of care as reported by health professionals, including: whose responsibility it is, access to care, the baby is the focus and pre-conception care. The main challenges were related to: disjointed systems and confusion around whose role it is to provide follow-up care beyond six weeks post-partum. Quantitative findings indicated that the majority of health professionals reported confidence in their own skills to manage women in the antenatal period (62%, 40/79) and slightly lower rates of confidence in the postpartum interval (57%, 33/58). CONCLUSION: These findings regarding whose role it is to provide postpartum care, along with opportunities to improve communication pathways and follow up care have informed the design of a complex health intervention to improve health systems and the provision of DIP related care.

Health-related behaviours in a remote Indigenous population with Type 2 diabetes: a Central Australian primary care survey in the Telehealth Eye and Associated Medical Services Network [TEAMSnet] project.

AIM: There is a wealth of data concerning the health behaviours of Indigenous Australians, but the health behaviours of Indigenous Australians with diabetes are not systematically documented. At the clinical level, understanding a person's health behaviours can help identify and address barriers to diabetes care and promote good clinical outcomes. METHODS: We used a novel survey tool to systematically collect health behaviour data on Smoking, Nutrition, Alcohol consumption, Physical activity and Emotional well-being (SNAPE) from Indigenous Australians with Type 2 diabetes in a remote primary care setting in Alice Springs. RESULTS: At least one of the five surveys in the SNAPE tool was completed by 210 participants: 30% male, mean age 52.6 years (range 22.9 - 87.4). Fifty per cent of men and 23% of women were current smokers (P < 0.001). None of the participants reported an adequate intake of vegetables. Only 9.6% reported an adequate fruit intake. Some 49% of men and 32% of women consumed alcohol in the past year (P = 0.022), and 46% of drinkers were considered high-risk or likely-dependent drinkers. On average, participants walked 10 min or more at a time 6.0 days a week and spent 4.8 h sitting on a weekday. Mean adapted Patient Health Questionnaire 9 score was 4.61, with 34% of participants having mild depressive symptoms and 11% having moderate-severe depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our SNAPE survey tool results present a high-risk, disadvantaged Indigenous population with Type 2 diabetes. More resources will be needed to sustainably implement interventions with the goal of improving health behaviours and subsequent long-term health.

Cross-sectional associations of albuminuria among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: the eGFR Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the detailed associations of albuminuria among a contemporary cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to inform strategies for chronic kidney disease prevention and management. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of Indigenous participants of the eGFR Study. MEASURES: Clinical, biochemical and anthropometric measures were collected (including body-circumferences, blood pressure (BP); triglycerides, HbA1c, liver function tests, creatinine; urine- microscopic-haem, albumin: creatinine ratio (ACR), prescriptions- angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor II antagonist (ACEI/ARB). Albuminuria and diabetes were defined by an ACR>3.0 mg/mmol, and HbA1c≥48 mmol/mol or prior history respectively. Waist: hip ratio (WHR), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were calculated. ACR was non-normally distributed; a logarithmic transformation was applied (in base 2), with each unit increase in log2-albuminuria representing a doubling of ACR. RESULTS: 591 participants were assessed (71% Aboriginal, 61.6% female, mean age 45.1 years, BMI 30.2 kg/m2 , WHR 0.94, eGFR 99.2 ml/min/1.73m2 ). The overall prevalence of albuminuria, diabetes, microscopic-haem and ACEI/ARB use was 41.5%, 41.5%, 17.8% and 34.7% respectively; 69.3% of adults with albuminuria and diabetes received an ACEI/ARB. Using multivariable linear regression modelling, the potentially modifiable factors independently associated with log2-albuminuria were microscopic-haem, diabetes, WHR, systolic BP, alkaline phosphatase (all positive) and eGFR (inverse). CONCLUSION: Albuminuria is associated with diabetes, central obesity and haematuria. High ACEI/ARB prescribing for adults with diabetes and albuminuria was observed. Further understanding of the links between fat deposition, haematuria and albuminuria is required.

Health service changes to address diabetes in pregnancy in a complex setting: perspectives of health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have high rates of gestational and pre-existing type 2 diabetes in pregnancy. The Northern Territory (NT) Diabetes in Pregnancy Partnership was established to enhance systems and services to improve health outcomes. It has three arms: a clinical register, developing models of care and a longitudinal birth cohort. This study used a process evaluation to report on health professional's perceptions of models of care and related quality improvement activities since the implementation of the Partnership. METHODS: Changes to models of care were documented according to goals and aims of the Partnership and reviewed annually by the Partnership Steering group. A 'systems assessment tool' was used to guide six focus groups (49 healthcare professionals). Transcripts were coded and analysed according to pre-identified themes of orientation and guidelines, education, communication, logistics and access, and information technology. RESULTS: Key improvements since implementation of the Partnership include: health professional relationships, communication and education; and integration of quality improvement activities. Focus groups with 49 health professionals provided in depth information about how these activities have impacted their practice and models of care for diabetes in pregnancy. Co-ordination of care was reported to have improved, however it was also identified as an opportunity for further development. Recommendations included a central care coordinator, better integration of information technology systems and ongoing comprehensive quality improvement processes. CONCLUSIONS: The Partnership has facilitated quality improvement through supporting the development of improved systems that enhance models of care. Persisting challenges exist for delivering care to a high risk population however improvements in formal processes and structures, as demonstrated in this work thus far, play an important role in work towards improving health outcomes.

Bilirubin concentration is positively associated with haemoglobin concentration and inversely associated with albumin to creatinine ratio among Indigenous Australians: eGFR Study.

Low serum bilirubin concentrations are reported to be strongly associated with cardio-metabolic disease, but this relationship has not been reported among Indigenous Australian people who are known to be at high risk for diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD). HYPOTHESIS: serum bilirubin will be negatively associated with markers of chronic disease, including CKD and anaemia among Indigenous Australians. METHOD: A cross-sectional analysis of 594 adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (TSI) people in good health or with diabetes and markers of CKD. Measures included urine albumin: creatinine ratio (ACR), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), haemoglobin (Hb) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c). Diabetes was defined by medical history, medications or HbA1c≥6.5% or ≥48mmol/mol. Anaemia was defined as Hb<130g/L or <120g/L in males and females respectively. A multivariate regression analysis examining factors independently associated with log-bilirubin was performed. RESULTS: Participants mean (SD) age was 45.1 (14.5) years, and included 62.5% females, 71.7% Aboriginal, 41.1% with diabetes, 16.7% with anaemia, 41% with ACR>3mg/mmol and 18.2% with eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m2. Median bilirubin concentration was lower in females than males (6 v 8µmol/L, p<0.001) and in Aboriginal than TSI participants (6 v 9.5µmol/L, p<0.001). Six factors explained 35% of the variance of log-bilirubin; Hb and cholesterol (both positively related) and ACR, triglycerides, Aboriginal ethnicity and female gender (all inversely related). CONCLUSION: Serum bilirubin concentrations were positively associated with Hb and total cholesterol, and inversely associated with ACR. Further research to determine reasons explaining lower bilirubin concentrations among Aboriginal compared with TSI participants are needed.

Associations of mortality and cardiovascular disease risks with diabetes and albuminuria in urban Indigenous Australians: the DRUID follow-up study.

AIM: To assess the relationships of diabetes and albuminuria with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease outcomes in a population without prior cardiovascular disease using data from the Darwin Region Urban Indigenous Diabetes (DRUID) study. METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 706 participants (aged 15-81 years, 68% women) without prior cardiovascular disease who underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Deaths and fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular disease were determined over 7 years, and hazard ratios with 95% CIs and population attributable risks were estimated for baseline glycaemia and albuminuria. RESULTS: Compared with normoglycaemia and after adjustment for age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidaemia and smoking, known diabetes was associated with an adjusted hazard ratio of 4.8 (95% CI 1.5-14.7) for all-cause mortality and 5.6 (95% CI 2.1-15.2) for cardiovascular disease. Compared with normoalbuminuria, the respective adjusted risks for macroalbuminuria were 10.9 (95% CI 3.7-32.1) and 3.9 (95% CI 1.4-10.8). The Adjusted all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease estimated population attributable risks for diabetes were 27% and 32%, and for albuminuria they were 32% and 21%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our study population, the burden of mortality and cardiovascular disease was largely driven by diabetes and albuminuria. This finding on the influence of diabetes and albuminuria is consistent with reports in other high-risk Indigenous populations and should be better reflected in risk scores and intervention programmes.

Periodontal therapy and glycaemic control among individuals with type 2 diabetes: reflections from the PerioCardio study.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus and periodontal disease are highly prevalent among Indigenous Australian adults. Untreated periodontitis impacts glycaemic control in people with diabetes. The aim of this study was to report on the effect of periodontal therapy on glycaemic control among people with obesity. METHODS: This subgroup analysis is limited to 62 participants with diabetes from the original 273 Aboriginal Australian adults enrolled into the PerioCardio study. Intervention participants received full-mouth non-surgical periodontal scaling during a single, untimed session while controls were untreated. Endpoints of interest included change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), C-reactive protein (CRP) and periodontal status at 3 months post-intervention. RESULTS: There were more females randomized to the treatment group (n = 17) than control (n = 10) while the control group had a higher overall body mass index (BMI) [mean (SD)] 33.1 (9.7 kg m-2 ) versus 29.9 (6.0 kg m-2 ). A greater proportion of males were followed up at 3 months compared to females, P = 0.05. Periodontal therapy did not significantly reduce HbA1c: ancova difference in means 0.22 mmol mol-1 (95% CI -6.25 to 6.69), CRP: ancova difference in means 0.64 (95% CI -1.08, 2.37) or periodontal status at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Non-surgical periodontal therapy did not significantly reduce glycated haemoglobin in participants with type 2 diabetes. Reasons are likely to be multifactorial and may be influenced by persistent periodontal inflammation at the follow-up appointments. Alternatively, the BMI of study participants may impact glycaemic control via alternative mechanisms involving the interplay between inflammation and adiposity meaning HbA1c may not be amenable to periodontal therapy in these individuals.

Nutritional predictors of chronic disease in a Central Australian Aboriginal cohort: A multi-mixture modelling analysis.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Chronic diseases (including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and chronic kidney disease) are major contributors to the total burden of disease for Aboriginal people. Here we used novel epidemiological modelling to investigate nutritional profiles at a population level associated with chronic disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Multi-mixture modelling, was used to group members of a Central Australian Aboriginal population (n = 444) based on their nutritional profile from a risk factor prevalence survey in 1995. Multi-mixture modelling assigned % membership to four classes; Class 1 (young, low adiposity and lipids, low dietary antioxidants; n = 171.7); Class 2 (older, greater adiposity and lipids; n = 22.6); Class 3 (predominantly female, greater adiposity and antioxidants, low smoking; n = 134.3) and Class 4 (predominantly male, greater lipids and adiposity, low antioxidants, high smoking prevalence; n = 115.4). For persons free of chronic disease (n = 285), incident chronic disease for classes 1, 3 and 4 was determined using follow up hospital, primary health care and death records collected in 2004/05. Fifty-four percent of Class 4 had incident chronic disease, an excess of 3355 events per 100,000 person years relative to Class 1. Incident CVD, hypertension, or CKD was highest for Class 4 and incident diabetes highest for Class 3. CONCLUSION: Multi-mixture modelling appears useful in identifying population subgroups of an Aboriginal population at risk of chronic conditions.

Associations of serum adiponectin with markers of cardio-metabolic disease risk in Indigenous Australian adults with good health, diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

The higher serum adiponectin concentrations observed in females are often attributed to differences in adiposity or sex hormones. There is little data describing adiponectin in Indigenous Australians, and no studies examining its association with cardio-metabolic disease risk markers and chronic kidney disease (CKD). AIM: To describe the relationship of serum adiponectin with cardio-metabolic disease risk markers and kidney function in a community-based sample of Indigenous Australian adults, with particular reference to sex-specific differences. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of a community-based volunteer sample of 548 Indigenous Australian adults (62% female), stratified into five cardio-metabolic risk groups ranging from good health (strata-1) to high cardio-metabolic risk and low measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR, <60ml/min/1.73m2) (strata-5). We examined serum adiponectin concentrations with cardio-metabolic risk markers, albuminuria and mGFR. RESULTS: Indigenous Australian females had a lower than expected adiponectin concentration (3.5µg/ml), which was higher than males in strata 1-4 (as in other populations), but not in strata-5 (mGFR<60, p=0.19), and higher leptin: adiponectin ratio than other populations (7.8ng/µg - strata-1, healthy females; 12.2ng/µg - strata-3, females with diabetes and mGFR≥90). Female-gender, HDL-cholesterol (positive), mGFR and waist: hip ratio (WHR) (inverse) were independently associated with log-adiponectin when mGFR≥60; when mGFR<60, female-gender was associated with 0.27 units lower log-adiponectin. CONCLUSION: Female-gender was not associated with higher adiponectin concentrations in Indigenous Australians with mGFR<60ml/min/1.73m2. High WHR was frequent in both genders, and inversely associated with adiponectin. Longitudinal studies are needed to examine relationships of serum adiponectin, obesity and cardiovascular disease events in Indigenous Australians.

Polycystic ovary syndrome and metabolic syndrome in Indigenous Australian women.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects around 15% of Indigenous women who are also a group at high risk of cardiometabolic disease. AIM: To explore the impact of PCOS on metabolic syndrome in Indigenous women. METHODS: A cross-sectional reproductive health questionnaire, biochemical and anthropometric assessments, of 109 Indigenous women (35 with PCOS and 74 without PCOS) aged 15-44 years in and around Darwin between 2003 and 2005. PCOS was defined using the National Institutes of Health criteria, and metabolic syndrome (MetS) using the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Programme III criteria. The outcome was prevalence of MetS by PCOS status; relationship of PCOS with MetS before and after adjustment for markers of obesity and insulin resistance. RESULTS: Women with PCOS had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.0001) and MetS was more frequent in women with PCOS (51%) than those without PCOS (23%) (P = 0.003). The most frequent components of MetS in both groups were a high density lipoprotein cholesterol ≤1.29 mmol/L (80% PCOS, 55% non-PCOS) and a waist circumference >88 cm (77% PCOS, 41% non-PCOS); these were significantly more frequent in women with PCOS (P = 0.01). In logistic regression models, PCOS was significantly associated with MetS by itself but not after adjustment for BMI or sex hormone binding globulin. CONCLUSIONS: While MetS was more common in Indigenous women with PCOS, PCOS was not an independent predictor of MetS. This may be because obesity and insulin resistance are integral parts of PCOS and are the mechanisms through which PCOS exerts metabolic effects.

Associations with dental caries experience among a convenience sample of Aboriginal Australian adults.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined dental caries experience in Aboriginal adults. The objectives of this study were to describe the dental caries experience of some Aboriginal Australian adults residing in the Northern Territory, and to determine associations with dental caries experience. METHODS: A convenience sample of Aboriginal adults from Australia's Northern Territory was dentally examined. Self-reported oral health information was collected through a questionnaire. RESULTS: Data were available for 312 participants. The per cent of untreated decayed teeth (per cent DT >0) was 77.9 (95% CI 73.0 to 82.1), the mean DT was 3.0 (95% CI 2.6 to 3.4), the prevalence of any caries experience (the per cent DMFT >0) was 95.5 (95% CI 92.6 to 97.3) and the mean DMFT was 9.7 (95% CI 8.9 to 10.5). In multivariable analyses, unemployment and not brushing teeth the previous day were associated with the per cent DT >0. Problem-based dental attendance was associated with both the mean DT and the per cent DMFT >0. Older age, residing in the capital city, being non-incarcerated, last visiting a dentist <1 year ago and problem-based dental attendance were associated with the mean DMFT. CONCLUSIONS: Dental caries experience among this convenience sample of Aboriginal Australian adults was very high. Most factors associated with dental caries were social determinants or dental service access-related.

Development of a single-frequency bioimpedance prediction equation for fat-free mass in an adult Indigenous Australian population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To describe the development of a single-frequency bioimpedance prediction equation for fat-free mass (FFM) suitable for adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with and without diabetes or indicators of chronic kidney disease (CKD). SUBJECTS/METHODS: FFM was measured by whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in 147 adult Indigenous Australians. Height, weight, body circumference and resistance were also measured. Adults with and without diabetes and indicators of CKD were examined. A random split sample with internal cross-validation approach was used to predict and subsequently validate FFM using resistance, height, weight, age and gender against measured FFM. RESULTS: Among 147 adults with a median body mass index of 31 kg/m(2), the final model of FFM was FFM (kg)=0.432 (height, cm(2)/resistance, ohm)-0.086 (age, years)+0.269 (weight, kg)-6.422 (if female)+16.429. Adjusted R(2) was 0.94 and the root mean square error was 3.33 kg. The concordance was high (rc=0.97) between measured and predicted FFM across a wide range of FFM (31-85 kg). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the high burden of diabetes and CKD among adult Indigenous Australians, this new equation for FFM was both accurate and precise and based on easily acquired variables (height, weight, age, gender and resistance) among a heterogeneous adult cohort.

Consumption of sucrose, but not high fructose corn syrup, leads to increased adiposity and dyslipidaemia in the pregnant and lactating rat.

Excess consumption of added sugars, including sucrose and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS-55), have been implicated in the global epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to investigate and compare the impact of maternal consumption of sucrose or HFCS-55 during pregnancy and lactation on the metabolic health of the dam and her offspring at birth. Female Albino Wistar rats were given access to chow and water, in addition to a sucrose or HFCS-55 beverage (10% w/v) before, and during pregnancy and lactation. Maternal glucose tolerance was determined throughout the study, and a postmortem was conducted on dams following lactation, and on offspring within 24 h of birth. Sucrose and HFCS-55 consumption resulted in increased total energy intake compared with controls, however the increase from sucrose consumption was accompanied by a compensatory decrease in chow consumption. There was no effect of sucrose or HFCS-55 consumption on body weight, however sucrose consumption resulted in increased adiposity and elevated total plasma cholesterol in the dam, while HFCS-55 consumption resulted in increased plasma insulin and decreased plasma non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). Maternal HFCS-55 consumption was associated with decreased relative liver weight and plasma NEFA in the offspring at birth. There was no effect of either treatment on pup weight at birth. These findings suggest that both sucrose and HFCS-55 consumption during pregnancy and lactation have the potential to impact negatively on maternal metabolic health, which may have adverse consequences for the long-term health of the offspring.

Oral health behaviours and perceptions reported by Indigenous Australians living in Darwin, Northern Territory.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the reported oral health behaviours and perceptions of Indigenous Australians living in Darwin, Northern Territory and to compare those with estimates for Darwin and Australia derived from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health (NSAOH). PARTICIPANTS: A total of 181 Indigenous Australians aged 22 years and over living in Darwin, participating in screening for a wider randomised clinical trial, were included. METHOD: Information on socio-demographic characteristics, oral health status including oral health behaviours and perceptions was collected using a questionnaire. Differences between the Darwin study (DS) participants and Australians in NSAOH were made based on non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Almost 72% of DS participants had last seen a dentist over a year earlier, compared to 47% and 39% of NSAOH Darwin and Australian participants, respectively. A higher proportion of DS participants usually visited a dentist because of a problem than NSAOH Darwin and NSAOH Australian participants. A higher proportion of DS participants had avoided or delayed a dental visit because of cost than NSAOH participants. Over three times as many DS participants rated their oral health as fair/poor compared to NSAOH participants. A higher proportion of DS participants had perceived gum disease and one or more symptoms of gum disease than NSAOH participants. A higher proportion of DS participants experienced toothache, felt uncomfortable about appearance of their mouth and avoided eating because of oral problems than NSAOH participants. CONCLUSIONS: A higher proportion of Indigenous Australians living in Darwin presented with non-optimal oral health behaviours and perceptions compared with both the Darwin and Australian general populations.

Dietary patterns as predictors of successful ageing.

OBJECTIVES: To examine associations between dietary patterns identified by factor analysis, and successful ageing. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study with diet measured in 1990-4, and successful ageing in 2003-7. Ordered logistic regression with outcome determined as dead/usual ageing/successful ageing was used to examine associations with quintile groups of dietary factor scores. PARTICIPANTS: Men and women (n=6308), without history of major illness at baseline, and aged >70 years at follow-up, or who had died before follow-up but would have been aged >70 at the commencement of follow-up, from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study. MEASUREMENTS: Frequencies of intake of 121 foods at baseline were collected in a food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometry and other health and lifestyle data were collected. At follow-up, questionnaire data relating to mental health, physical function and medical history were used to define successful ageing. RESULTS: Four dietary factors were identified, characterized by higher loadings for (1) vegetables; (2) fruit, (3) feta, legumes, salad, olive oil, and inverse loadings for tea, margarine, cake, sweet biscuits and puddings; (4) meat, white bread, savoury pastry dishes and fried foods. In models excluding body size, the second factor 'Fruit' was positively associated with successful ageing (OR in top 20% vs lowest 20% of score 1.31, 95%CI (1.05-1.63), p trend across quintile groups 0.001); while the fourth factor 'Meat/fatty foods' was inversely associated (OR in top 20% vs lowest 20% of score 0.69, 95%CI (0.55-0.86), p trend across quintile groups 0.001). Factors 1 and 3 did not show significant associations with successful ageing. The association for 'Fruit' was little altered after adjustment for body size, while for 'Meat/fatty foods' the association was somewhat attenuated. CONCLUSION: A dietary pattern including plenty of fruit while limiting meat and fried foods may improve the likelihood of ageing successfully.

Performance of formulas for estimating glomerular filtration rate in Indigenous Australians with and without Type 2 diabetes: the eGFR Study.

AIMS: It has been proposed that the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula estimates glomerular filtration rate more accurately than the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula. With the very high incidence of diabetes and end-stage kidney disease in Indigenous Australians, accurate estimation of glomerular filtration rate is vital in early detection of kidney disease. We aimed to assess the performance of the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Cockcroft-Gault formulas in Indigenous Australians with and without diabetes. METHODS: Indigenous Australians with (n = 224) or without (n = 340) Type 2 diabetes had a reference glomerular filtration rate measure using plasma disappearance of iohexol (measured glomerular filtration rate) over 4 h. Serum creatinine was measured by an enzymatic method. Performance was assessed by bias (measured glomerular filtration rate - estimated glomerular filtration rate) and accuracy (percentage of estimated glomerular filtration rate within 30% of measured glomerular filtration rate). RESULTS: The median measured glomerular filtration rate (interquartile range) in participants with or without diabetes was 97 (68-119) and 108 (90-122) ml min(-1)  1.73 m(-2) , respectively. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula had smaller bias and greater accuracy than the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Cockcroft-Gault formulas overall, for participants both with and without diabetes. However, for estimated glomerular filtration rate > 90 ml min(-1)  1.73 m(-2) , the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula had greater bias in participants with diabetes, underestimating measured glomerular filtration rate by 7.4 vs. 1.0 ml min(-1)  1.73 m(-2) in those without diabetes. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula was less accurate across the whole range of estimated glomerular filtration rates in participants with vs. those without diabetes (87.1% vs. 93.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula outperforms the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Cockcroft-Gault formulas overall in Indigenous Australians with and without diabetes. However, the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration formula has greater bias in people with diabetes compared with those without diabetes, especially in those with normal renal function.

Periodontal disease and dental caries among Indigenous Australians living in the Northern Territory, Australia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to describe the caries experience and severity of periodontal disease in a convenience sample of Indigenous Australians living in the Northern Territory. METHODS: Data were gathered via self-reported questionnaire and dental examination by calibrated examiners. Socio-demographic characteristics were compared with data from the 2011 Australian census while prevalence of periodontal disease and dental caries was compared against weighted estimates from the National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-2006. In each comparison, non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals inferred a significant difference. Within-study comparisons were assessed via chi-square, t-tests and analysis of variance for differences among study participants. RESULTS: A total of 312 Indigenous Australian participants provided completed data (average age 39.5 ± 10.5 years, 174 males). Of these, 87.5% were confirmed periodontitis cases; 3.5 times that of national-level estimates. The experience of untreated caries was five times that of national estimates (mean decayed 3.0 versus 0.6). Periodontitis case status was positively associated with older age, male gender and presence of diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Periodontal disease and untreated caries were significantly more prevalent in this sample of Indigenous Australians compared to the general Australian population. The prevalence of periodontal disease was markedly higher than that previously described for Indigenous Australians.

Hypertriglyceridemic waist and newly-diagnosed diabetes among remote-dwelling Indigenous Australians.

AIMS: Hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTgW) is predictive of cardiovascular disease. The HTgW relationship with diabetes is little studied. METHODS: This study analysed data from diabetes and cardiovascular risk factor screening programmes in remote Indigenous Australian settlements. Elevated waist girth (EW) was defined as ≥90 cm for men (n = 1134) or ≥80 cm for women (n = 1313). Hypertriglyceridemia (ETg) was defined as ≥1.7 mmol/L. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L. Body mass index (BMI) was categorised as <22, 22-24.9 and >25.0 kg/m(2). Logistic regression was used to analyse the odds of newly-diagnosed diabetes for individuals with either HTgW, ETg or EW, relative to individuals with values below cut-offs. RESULTS: The prevalence of HTgW was 33.2% for men and 34.8% for women. Accounting for age-group and gender, newly-diagnosed diabetes was associated (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval)) with HTgW: 9.6 (6.6, 13.8). The relationship remained strong after accounting for the covariates BMI and smoking (OR = 4.9 (2.7, 8.8)). In BMI-stratified analyses the strongest odds were observed for the lowest category (<22 kg/m(2): OR = 12.9 (4.0, 41.7)). CONCLUSIONS: HTgW has a high prevalence and is associated with newly-diagnosed diabetes in Indigenous people, particularly those with BMI <22 kg/m(2), whom clinicians might not normally consider for screening.