Quantifying the excess risk for proteinuria, hypertension and diabetes in Australian Aborigines: comparison of profiles in three remote communities in the Northern Territory with those in the AusDiab study.

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the magnitude of excess risk for proteinuria, high blood pressure and diabetes in Australian Aboriginal adults in three remote communities by comparing them with nationwide Australian data.

METHODS

Adult volunteers from three remote communities in the Northern Territory were screened for proteinuria, high blood pressure, and diabetes between 2000 and mid 2003. Rates for people age 25 to 74 years were compared with those from the AusDiab study conducted in 1999 and 2000.

RESULTS

Compared with AusDiab, rates of these conditions were elevated in all Aboriginal communities, but differed among them. With adjustment for age and sex, rates of proteinuria were elevated 2.5- to 5.3-fold, rates of high blood pressure were elevated 3.1- to 8.1-fold and rates of diabetes were elevated 5.4- to 10-fold (p < 0.001 for all). The risk of having any condition ranged from 3.0- to 8.7-fold and the risk of having two or more conditions ranged from 5.8- to 14.2-fold.

DISCUSSION

The data are compatible with the excess morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease, diabetes and renal disease in these Aboriginal groups. They reflect the multitude of risk factors operating in these environments. They dictate urgent and systematic intervention to modify outcomes of established disease and to prevent their development. However, the resources required for effective secondary intervention will differ among communities according to the disease burden.