Coronary Artery Disease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People

Grant ID: EMPJ-221R31-2019-Starmer

Project Summary

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people die from heart attacks at younger ages than non-indigenous Australians. The factors that increase risk of death from heart attack in young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are unknown.

Most patients who present to an Emergency Department (ED) with chest pain do not have a heart problem but all are assessed for their risk of having a life-threatening cause, such as heart attack. The level of risk determines which tests are performed so that a final diagnosis can be obtained as quickly as possible. Due to the lack of knowledge about risk factors in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population there is uncertainty about how best to use chest pain risk assessments in indigenous patients.

In this study, we will determine the rate of coronary artery disease (a hardening of arteries and the underlying cause of heart attacks) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who present to the ED with chest pain. We will also compare the characteristics of patients who do and do not have heart attacks to identify potential risk factors for heart attack in this population.

The findings from this study will: 1) allow ED doctors to determine a baseline level of risk of heart attack for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient population, and 2) provide preliminary information necessary for the design of large-scale research studies with the goal of determining specific risk factors for heart attack in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.


SHARE

Amount Awarded
$115,000


Program


Grant Scheme


Status
Active


Principal Investigator:
Dr Katrina Starmer


Co Investigators:
Prof Louise Cullen
Dr Gregory Starmer
Ms Laura Foran
A/Prof Jaimi Greenslade
Prof Will Parsonage
Dr Mark Wenitong
Dr Nathan Brown
Dr Louise McCormack


Associate Investigators:
Ms Tileah Drahm Butler
Ms Tania Davis
Ms Virginia Campbell
Dr Elizabeth Mowatt


Institution


Collaborating Institutions


CONTACT US +61 7 3112 8668 info@emfoundation.org.au Suite 1A 34 Sherwood Road Toowong, Qld 4066