title: Cardiovascular disease risk in young Indigenous Australians: a snapshot of current preventive health care.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine preventive health attendance and recording of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease risk factors and their management in young Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders (Indigenous Australians) at primary health care centres (PHCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive cross-sectional study audited medical records of 1,986 Indigenous people aged 15-34 years attending 93 Australian PHCs. Measurements included blood pressure (BP), blood glucose level (BGL), smoking status, body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Last attendance was most commonly for acute care (46%); 12% attended for preventive assessment. BP was recorded in 85% (1,686/1,986), BGL 63% (1,244/1,986), smoking status 52% (1,033/1,986), BMI 37% (743/1,986) and lipids 31% (625/1,986). Of those with a recorded assessment, elevated BGL (39%, 479/1,244), smoking (63%, 649/1,033), overweight/obesity (51%, 381/743) and dyslipidaemia (73%, 458/625) were common. Follow-up of abnormal results was documented for elevated BP 28% (34/120), elevated BGL 17% (79/479), smoking 65% (421/649), overweight/obesity 11% (40/381) and abnormal lipids 16% (75/458).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the importance of raising awareness and assessment of chronic disease risk factors in young Indigenous people and implementing preventive health care strategies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strengthening the capacity of PHCs to provide preventive health care may contribute to reducing the chronic disease burden experienced by young Indigenous people.
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria.|Monash Health, Diabetes and Vascular Medicine, Victoria.|School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crinall
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria.|Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Queensland.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.affiliation: Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gibson-Helm
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Tropical Medicine and Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Esler
authors.affiliation: Anton Breinl Research Centre for Health Systems Strengthening, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Queensland.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Larkins
authors.affiliation: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Queensland.
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bailie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Australia; Indigenous; cardiovascular disease; diabetes; prevention; primary health care; quality improvement