Timeframe
2004-2007
Funding
Health Research Council of New Zealand
COMPASS staff
Roy Lay-Yee
Janet Pearson
Collaborators
University of Auckland
Raina Elley
Ngaire Kerse
Bruce Arroll
Elizabeth Robinson
Tim Kenealy
Robert Scragg
Description
This research was conducted in response to the growing epidemic of diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand, particularly amongst Māori, Pacific, and Asian populations. It was predicted that costs associated with diabetes could reach $1,066 million by 2020, and there were significant disparities by ethnic group in the rate of diabetes-related complications and mortality. In the bigger picture, reducing the incidence and impact of diabetes was a priority of the New Zealand Health Strategy.
This project aimed to establish the relationships among risk factors such as blood pressure, lipids, glycaemic control, and microalbuminuria, and outcomes such as diabetes complications, cardiovascular disease, and mortality, for people with diabetes in Aotearoa New Zealand and by region.
Methods were developed to calculate cardiovascular and microvascular risk for people of different ethnic groups. Anonymised data from the ‘Get-Checked’ and Diabetes Care Support Service databases were linked using encrypted NHI to medical outcomes data via the New Zealand Health Information Service (NZHIS), and these data were used to produce risk assessment tools appropriate for New Zealand ethnic groups in the management of diabetes at the primary health care level. The main aims were show how things would need to change to reduce diabetes-related complications, hospital admissions, and mortality.