A collaborative cardiovascular health program for aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Goulburn-Murray region: Development and risk factor screening at indigenous community organisations

Abstract

The Heart Health Project was developed in partnership between Aboriginal health and social organisations in the Goulburn-Murray region and university departments. The aims included screening for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and evaluating community-directed interventions. We describe the development of the Heart Health Project and the results of risk factor screening among employees (n=66) of Aboriginal organisations during 2003-04. Screening identified few new cases of overt hypertension, diabetes or hypercholesterolaemia, but did find a large proportion of the survey sample who smoked, had evidence of periodontal disease or who had "high normal" levels of risk factors at a re..