Heart failure, ventricular dysfunction and risk factor prevalence in Australian Aboriginal peoples: The Heart of the Heart Study

Michele McGrady*, Henry Krum, Melinda J. Carrington, Simon Stewart, Christopher Zeitz, Geraldine A. Lee, Thomas H. Marwick, Brian A. Haluska, Alex Brown

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Limited strategies have been developed to evaluate and address the alarming discrepancy in early mortality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations. Objective: To assess heart failure (HF), HF risk factors and document cardiac characteristics in an Australian Aboriginal population. Design, setting, participants: Adults were enrolled across six Aboriginal communities in Central Australia. They undertook comprehensive cardiovascular assessments, including echocardiography, to determine HF status, asymptomatic ventricular dysfunction and underlying risk factor profile. Results: Of 436 participants (mean age 44614 years; 64% women) enrolled, 5.3% (95% CI 3.2% to 7.5%) were diagnosed with HF, only 35% of whom had a pre-existing HF diagnosis. Asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD) was seen in 13% (95% CI 9.4% to 15.7%) of the population. Estimates of HF risk factor prevalence were as follows: body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 42%, hypertension 41%, diabetes mellitus 40%, coronary artery disease (CAD) 7% and history of acute rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease 7%. In logistic regression analysis (after adjustment for age and gender), HF was associated with CAD (OR=9.6, p<0.001), diabetes (OR=5.4, p=0.002), hypertension (OR=4.8, p=0.006), BMI ≥30 kg/m2 (OR=2.9, p=0.02), acute rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease (OR=5.6, p=0.001) and B-type natriuretic peptide (OR=1.02, p<0.001). Conclusion: The burden of HF, ALVD and risk factors in this population was extremely high. This study highlights potentially modifiable targets on which to focus resources and screening strategies to prevent HF in this high-risk Indigenous population.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1562-1567
Number of pages6
JournalHeart
Volume98
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2012
Externally publishedYes

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