0202507040004
This study estimates the first national community prevalence and age distribution of AF (including paroxysmal) in Australian Aboriginal people. A handheld single-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) device (iECG), known to be acceptable in this population, was used to record participant ECGs.
This co-designed, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in partnership with 16 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health organisations at their facilities and/or with their services delivered elsewhere.
This study is a significant contribution to the evidence which supports screening for AF in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people commencing at a younger age than as recommended in the Australian guidelines (>65 years).STARDIT ID:
0202507040004State completed
Start 2015-12-17
Form updated 2025-07-04
Inputs
Josephine Gwynn
Task: Co-author
Kylie Gwynne (link)
ID: 0000-0002-6897-4528
Task: Lead Investigator
Communication: Email, video calls
Compensation: paid
Rhys Rodrigues
Task: Co-author
Sandra Thompson
Task: Co-author
Graham Bolton
Task: Co-author
Yvonne Dimitropoulos
Task: Co-author
Norman Dulvari
Task: Co-author
Heather Finlayson
Task: Co-author
Sandra Hamilton
Task: Co-author
Monica Lawrence
Task: Co-author
Rona MacNiven
Task: Co-author
Lis Neubeck
Task: Co-author
Boe Rambaldini
Task: Co-author
Kerry Taylor
Task: Co-author
Darryl Wright
Task: Co-author
Ben Freedman (link)
ID: 0000-0001-7635-8787
Task: Co-investigator
Communication: Email, meetings
Compensation: paid
Australian community members from Mungindi, Kempsey, Inverell, Alice Springs, Geraldton, Brewarrina, Tingha, Tenterfield, Glen Innes, Boggabilla, Ashford
Method: in-person ECG screening
Recruitment: community-based recruitment, opportunistic recruitment
Aboriginal investigators (Not stated) (link)
Task: data analysis, dissemination and research translation
Method: 'actively involved'
People from the local Aboriginal healthcare workforces working on screening (link)
Task: data collectors or 'iECG screeners'
Recruitment: Invited via the local Aboriginal healthcare workforce
Declared interests: The participating health service will keep the iECG device after the completion of the study to benefit their health service.
Aboriginal study participants (619) (link)
Task: give data during an "interactive" Electrocardiogram (iECG)
Method: In person screening
Recruitment: Participants were recruited in person and received an information sheet explaining the study and a plain English and pictorial information sheet setting out the risk factors for cardiovascular disease, the ways to reduce risk and promote heath, a straightforward explanation of the symptoms of a heart disease and what to do if experiencing those symptoms.
Communication: In person
Compensation: volunteer
ID: 1135/15
ID: CA-17-2755
Outputs and impacts
Stage: End of research project
Start: 2015-12-17
End 2021-02-01
Impact: Cited by multiple peer-reviewed articles (14 as of 2025.07.04), and a news outlet
Learning: This study found a higher prevalence of AF in community dwelling Aboriginal people aged 55–64 years (3.8%) compared with national estimates of 1.2% for the same age, younger than the clinically recognised age for development of AF (65 years) among the general population.
The prevalence of AF also appears marginally higher for men than women, and to increase with age
Data
Method: Data is available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales
Location: Further information available here: https://www.heartlungcirc.org/article/S1443-9506(20)30345-0/fulltext
Access status: not publicly available
Access method: Data is available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author but restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were collected under ethics approval conditions, and so are not publicly available. Data are however available from the authors upon reasonable request and with permission of the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of New South Wales.