title: Kimberley Indigenous mental health: An examination of metabolic syndrome risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is an increased risk of physical health comorbidities in people with a mental illness. This paper examines the metabolic syndrome parameters for the general population, indigenous Australians and people with a mental illness, and compares them to a sample of predominantly indigenous adults with mental health problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A longitudinal (24 month) audit of patient medical records was conducted between February 2011 and March 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service in Broome, Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Largely indigenous adults with a mental illness. Sample numbers increased from 56 at baseline (80% indigenous) to 136 at 18 months (70% indigenous).
  
  
  METHODS
  Waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting lipids, and fasting blood glucose.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary assessment of the data indicates a high percentage of abnormalities at baseline and at the 18 month period on all four parameters, yet not all patients were assessed on a regular basis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Abnormalities in metabolic profiles consistent with the non-Indigenous mental health population were found. There are considerable challenges to implementing regular monitoring of physical and metabolic profiles of indigenous people in rural and remote communities.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia. Susanne.Stanley@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Susanne H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Stanley
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Jonathan D E
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Laugharne
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.|Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service, Broome, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Murray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Fremantle Hospital, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.|Kimberley Mental Health and Drug Service, Broome, Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Sivasankaran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balaratnasingam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008603:Mental Health; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D014904:Western Australia
keywords: Indigenous Health; mental health; primary health care; remote health; research and education