Potentially preventable dementia in a First Nations population in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of North Queensland, Australia: A cross sectional analysis using population attributable fractions

Thompson, Fintan, Russell, Sarah, Quigley, Rachel, Sagigi, Betty, Taylor, Sean, McDonald, Malcolm, Campbell, Sandy, Esterman, Adrian, Harriss, Linton R., Miller, Gavin, Strivens, Edward, and McDermott, Robyn (2022) Potentially preventable dementia in a First Nations population in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of North Queensland, Australia: A cross sectional analysis using population attributable fractions. The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific, 26. 100532.

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Abstract

Dementia is highly prevalent among Australia's First Nations peoples, including Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal peoples in Far North Queensland (FNQ). It is likely that historically recent exposure to modifiable risk factors underlies these rates, and a large proportion of dementia may be potentially preventable.

Data from two adult community health checks (2015-2018) were analyzed to determine the prevalence of 11 modifiable dementia risk factors among the First Nations residents of the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of FNQ. Population attributable fractions (PAF%) for dementia were calculated using age-standardized prevalence estimates derived from these health checks and relative risks obtained from previous meta-analyses in other populations. PAF% estimates were weighted for communality to account for overlap of risk factors.

Half (52·1%) of the dementia burden in this population may be attributed to 11 potentially modifiable risk factors. Hypertension (9·4%), diabetes mellitus (9·0%), obesity (8·0%), and smoking (5·3%) were the highest contributing risk factors. The contribution of depression (2·0%) and alcohol (0·3%) was lower than other global and national estimates. While the adjusted PAF% for social isolation was low based on the adult community health check data (1·6%), it was higher (4·2%) when official census data were analyzed.

These results suggest that a substantial proportion of dementia in FNQ First Nations peoples could potentially be prevented. Government investment in preventative health now is essential to reduce the future burden of dementia.

Item ID: 77330
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 2666-6065
Keywords: Dementia, Prevention, First Nations, Indigenous, Population attributable fractions
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Copyright Information: © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Funders: National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Projects and Grants: NHMRC GNT1107140, NHMRC GNT1191144, NHMRC GNT1106175, NHMRC GNT0631947
Date Deposited: 25 Jan 2023 05:52
FoR Codes: 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4202 Epidemiology > 420299 Epidemiology not elsewhere classified @ 35%
42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4206 Public health > 420699 Public health not elsewhere classified @ 30%
42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4203 Health services and systems > 420301 Aged health care @ 35%
SEO Codes: 21 INDIGENOUS > 2103 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health > 210399 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health not elsewhere classified @ 50%
20 HEALTH > 2099 Other health > 209999 Other health not elsewhere classified @ 50%
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