scholarly journals Working Towards Eye Health Equity for Indigenous Australians with Diabetes

Author(s):  
Jose J. Estevez ◽  
Natasha J. Howard ◽  
Jamie E. Craig ◽  
Alex Brown

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) poses significant challenges to individuals and broader society, much of which is borne by disadvantaged and marginalised population groups including Indigenous people. The increasing prevalence of T2DM among Indigenous people has meant that rates of diabetes-related complications such as blindness from end-stage diabetic retinopathy (DR) continue to be important health concerns. Australia, a high-income and resource-rich country, continues to struggle to adequately respond to the health needs of its Indigenous people living with T2DM. Trends among Indigenous Australians highlight that the prevalence of DR has almost doubled over two decades, and the prevalence of diabetes-related vision impairment is consistently reported to be higher among Indigenous Australians (5.2%–26.5%) compared to non-Indigenous Australians (1.7%). While Australia has collated reliable estimates of the eye health burden owing to T2DM in its Indigenous population, there is fragmentation of existing data and limited knowledge on the underlying risk factors. Taking a systems approach that investigates the social, environmental, clinical, biological and genetic risk factors, and—importantly—integrates these data, may give valuable insights into the most important determinants contributing to the development of diabetes-related blindness. This knowledge is a crucial initial step to reducing the human and societal impacts of blindness on Indigenous Australians, other priority populations and society at large.

2014 ◽  
pp. 26-30
Author(s):  
Huu Thinh Nguyen ◽  
Thi Thuy Hang Nguyen ◽  
Bui Bao Hoang

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of death in dialysis patients, as well as in kidney transplant patients. Assessment of cardiovascular risks of renal transplant candidates to prevent or slow the progression of cardiovascular abệnh nhânormalities. Aim: 1) Evaluating cardiovascular risk factors, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in renal transplant candidates. 2) Identifying the correlation between cardiac morphological parameters with a number of factors involved. Subjects and Methods: We assessed 57 patients (73.7% male, mean age 32.4±8.8) with end-stage renal disease waiting for renal transplantation at Cho Ray Hospital between Jan 2012 and Jan 2013. All patients received a physical examination, blood pressure measurement, Hb, blood glucose test, lipid profile, ECG, echocardiography. Results: The percentage of hypertension was 98.2%, smoking (69.2%), dyslipidemia 40.4% and diabetes 12.3%. All patients had sinus rhythm, left ventricular hypertrophy 61.4% in ECG. Pericardial effusion 5.3%, mitral valve insufficiency 56.1%, aortic valve insufficiency 12.3%, left ventricular hypertrophy 94.7% in echocardiography. IVSd, LVPWd, LVMI positively correlated with kidney failure time (p <0.01, p<0.001), with DBP and SBP (p <0.05) and the degree of anemia (p <0.05). Percentage the degree of hypertension associated with proportion of left ventricular hypertrophy (p <0.05). Conclusions: Identification of cardiovascular risk factors for the prevention or intervention to reduce mortality in renal transplantation. Keywords: Cardiovascular risk factors, end-stage chronic renal failure, renal transplantation.


2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Jing Zhu ◽  
Chao Tang ◽  
Han Ouyang ◽  
Huaying Shen ◽  
Tao You ◽  
...  

<b><i>Aim:</i></b> To derive an echocardiography-based prognostic score for a 3-year risk of mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 173 ESRD patients hospitalized in the second affiliated hospital of Soochow University from January 1, 2010, to July 31, 2016, were enrolled and followed up for 3 years. All subjects began to receive HD from recruitment. Baseline clinical and echocardiographic parameters were collected and screened for risk factors using univariate and multivariate analysis. The prognostic value of echocardiographic indexes was determined by concordance indexes and reclassification assay. Restricted cubic spline models (RCS) and forest plots were employed to visualize the association between risk factors and all-cause mortality. A multivariate nomogram including the identified factors was developed to estimate the prognosis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> After multivariate adjustment for advanced age, hypertension, diabetes, and decreased hemoglobin (Hb), echocardiographic indexes including left atrial diameter index (LADI), cardiac valvular calcification, and moderate to severe cardiac valve regurgitation were independently associated with the risk of 3-year mortality in HD patients. RCS showed that age, Hb, and LADI were positively associated with the risk of mortality. Adding multiple echocardiographic indexes to a basic model containing age, hypertension, diabetes, and Hb increased the concordance index and improved reclassification. A multivariate Cox model-derived nomogram showed the association between each factor and mortality by the end of follow-up. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Echocardiographic indexes showed independent predictive power for mortality in ESRD patients and may constitute a promising prognostic tool in this population.


Author(s):  
Nam Jeong Jeong ◽  
Eunil Park ◽  
Angel P. del Pobil

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are one of the major health threats in the world. Thus, identifying the factors that influence NCDs is crucial to monitor and manage diseases. This study investigates the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs as well as the effects of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors using an integrated research model. This study used a dataset from the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. After filtering incomplete responses, 5462 valid responses remained. Items including one’s social-environmental factors (household income, education level, and region), behavioral factors (alcohol use, tobacco use, and physical activity), and NCDs histories were used for analyses. To develop a comprehensive index of each factor that allows comparison between different concepts, the researchers assigned scores to indicators of the factors and calculated a ratio of the scores. A series of path analyses were conducted to determine the extent of relationships among NCDs and risk factors. The results showed that social-environmental factors have notable effects on stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, diabetes, and gastric, liver, colon, lung, and thyroid cancers. The results indicate that the effects of social-environmental and behavioral risk factors on NCDs vary across the different types of diseases. The effects of social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors significantly affected NCDs. However, the effect of social-environmental factors on behavioral risk factors was not supported. Furthermore, social-environmental factors and behavioral risk factors affect NCDs in a similar way. However, the effects of behavioral risk factors were smaller than those of social-environmental factors. The current research suggests taking a comprehensive view of risk factors to further understand the antecedents of NCDs in South Korea.


2021 ◽  
pp. 089686082199692
Author(s):  
Vasilios Vaios ◽  
Panagiotis I Georgianos ◽  
Georgia Vareta ◽  
Dimitrios Divanis ◽  
Evangelia Dounousi ◽  
...  

Background: The newly introduced device Mobil-O-Graph (IEM, Stolberg, Germany) combines brachial cuff oscillometry and pulse wave analysis, enabling the determination of pulse wave velocity (PWV) via complex mathematic algorithms during 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). However, the determinants of oscillometric PWV in the end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) population remain poorly understood. Methods: In this study, 81 ESKD patients undergoing long-term peritoneal dialysis underwent 24-h ABPM with the Mobil-O-Graph device. The association of 24-h oscillometric PWV with several demographic, clinical and haemodynamic parameters was explored using linear regression analysis. Results: In univariate analysis, among 21 risk factors, 24-h PWV exhibited a positive relationship with age, body mass index, overhydration assessed via bioimpedance spectroscopy, diabetic status, history of dyslipidaemia and coronary heart disease, and it had a negative relationship with female sex and 24-h heart rate. In stepwise multivariate analysis, age ( β: 0.883), 24-h systolic blood pressure (BP) ( β: 0.217) and 24-h heart rate ( β: −0.083) were the only three factors that remained as independent determinants of 24-h PWV (adjusted R 2 = 0.929). These associations were not modified when all 21 risk factors were analysed conjointly or when the model included only variables shown to be significant in univariate comparisons. Conclusion: The present study shows that age together with simultaneously assessed oscillometric BP and heart rate are the major determinants of Mobil-O-Graph-derived PWV, explaining >90% of the total variation of this marker. This age dependence of oscillometric PWV limits the validity of this marker to detect the premature vascular ageing, a unique characteristic of vascular remodelling in ESKD.


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 375-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte E. Grantham ◽  
Katherine L. Hull ◽  
Matthew P.M. Graham-Brown ◽  
Daniel S. March ◽  
James O. Burton

Cardiovascular mortality in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population remains the leading cause of death. Targeting traditional cardiovascular risk factors has proven unsuccessful in this patient population, and therefore attention has turned to risk factors related to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The toxicity of high-glucose peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions has been well documented. The breakdown of glucose into glucose degradation products (GDP) and advanced glycation end-products (AGE) has the ability to alter cell viability and cause premature apoptosis and is strongly correlated with interstitial fibrosis and microvascular sclerosis. Biocompatible solutions have been introduced to combat the hostile milieu to which PD patients are exposed.Given the considerable cardiovascular burden for PD patients, little is known about the cardiovascular impact the new biocompatible solutions may have. This review analyzes the existing literature regarding the mechanisms through which low-GDP solutions may modulate cardiovascular risk. Interventions using low-GDP solutions have provided encouraging changes in structural cardiovascular measures such as left ventricular mass (LVM), although metabolic changes from reduced GDP and AGE exposure yield inconclusive results on vascular remodelling. It is thought that the local effects of reduced glucose exposure may improve membrane integrity and therefore fluid status. Further research in the form of a robust randomized controlled trial should be carried out to assess the true extent of the cardiovascular benefits these biocompatible solutions may hold.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Hensen ◽  
Patricia T. Illing ◽  
E. Bridie Clemens ◽  
Thi H. O. Nguyen ◽  
Marios Koutsakos ◽  
...  

AbstractIndigenous people worldwide are at high risk of developing severe influenza disease. HLA-A*24:02 allele, highly prevalent in Indigenous populations, is associated with influenza-induced mortality, although the basis for this association is unclear. Here, we define CD8+ T-cell immune landscapes against influenza A (IAV) and B (IBV) viruses in HLA-A*24:02-expressing Indigenous and non-Indigenous individuals, human tissues, influenza-infected patients and HLA-A*24:02-transgenic mice. We identify immunodominant protective CD8+ T-cell epitopes, one towards IAV and six towards IBV, with A24/PB2550–558-specific CD8+ T cells being cross-reactive between IAV and IBV. Memory CD8+ T cells towards these specificities are present in blood (CD27+CD45RA− phenotype) and tissues (CD103+CD69+ phenotype) of healthy individuals, and effector CD27−CD45RA−PD-1+CD38+CD8+ T cells in IAV/IBV patients. Our data show influenza-specific CD8+ T-cell responses in Indigenous Australians, and advocate for T-cell-mediated vaccines that target and boost the breadth of IAV/IBV-specific CD8+ T cells to protect high-risk HLA-A*24:02-expressing Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations from severe influenza disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Carina Ferreira ◽  
Patrícia Cotovio ◽  
Inês Aires ◽  
Marco Mendes ◽  
David Navarro ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is frequent in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, increasing morbid-mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and phenotype of bone disease before transplantation; and to correlate FGF23, klotho and sclerostin serum levels with bone histomorphometric parameters and CV disease. The secondary aim was to correlate bone biopsies data with other bone related parameters, as PTH, bone alkaline phosphatase, 25-hidroxivitamin D3, calcitonin, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Method We performed a prospective cohort study of a sample of ESRD patients listed for renal transplant. All patients were submitted to renal transplant and were followed for 12 months. Patient and graft survival were recorded. At inclusion, demographic and clinical data were collected, laboratorial evaluation; bone biopsy and X-ray of the pelvis and hands (Adragão score) were performed. Continuous variables are presented as medians and categorical variables as frequencies. Associations between variables were performed using Wilcoxon rank sum test, Fisher and Kruskal Wallis test. Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression. STATA software was used and p &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results We included 84 patients. Median age 53.5 (IQ range: 40.5 – 61.5) years, 59 men (70.2%), 65 caucasian (77.4%). The median left ventricular mass index was 108.5 (92 – 129) g/m2, with 32 patients presenting left ventricular hypertrophy and 19 valve calcifications. Median Adragão score was 1 (0 – 2). We diagnosed adynamic bone disease in 15 patients; hyperparathyroid bone disease in 19 patients; osteomalacia in 1 patient and mixed renal osteodystrophy in 3 patients. At the end of 12 months, 4 patients died, 5 had graft failure (non-primary function) and 4 had a cardiovascular event. Sclerostin was found to be a risk factor for low bone volume; whereas low phosphorus, low FGF23 and high bAP risk factors for abnormal mineralization. High turnover was mainly present in patients with high bAP and phosphorus and low sclerostin levels. The presence of valve calcifications was associated with low volume and with low or high turnover disorder. FGF23 appears as an important independent factor for vascular calcifications [as well age (p=0.009), BMI (p=0.02), presence of diabetes (p=0.01)], and for cardiovascular events. Sclerostin emerged as a risk factor for vascular calcifications and lower levels of sclerostin were associated with patient survival at the end of 12 months. Conclusion From the bone-derived hormones, sclerostin and FGF23 seem to act as risk factors for vascular calcifications and worse outcomes.


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