Potential Determinants of Cardio-Metabolic Risk among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Prevention initiatives during childhood and adolescence have great potential to address the health inequities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) populations in Australia by targeting modifiable risk factors for cardio-metabolic diseases. We aimed to synthesize existing evidence about potential determinants of cardio-metabolic risk markers—obesity, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood glucose, abnormal lipids, or a clustering of these factors known as the metabolic syndrome (MetS)—for Indigenous children and adolescents. We systematically searched six databases for journal articles and three websites for relevant grey literature. Included articles (n = 47) reported associations between exposures (or interventions) and one or more of the risk markers among Indigenous participants aged 0–24 years. Data from 18 distinct studies about 41 exposure–outcome associations were synthesized (by outcome: obesity [n = 18]; blood pressure [n = 9]; glucose, insulin or diabetes [n = 4]; lipids [n = 5]; and MetS [n = 5]). Obesity was associated with each of the other cardio-metabolic risk markers. Larger birth size and higher area-level socioeconomic status were associated with obesity; the latter is opposite to what is observed in the non-Indigenous population. There were major gaps in the evidence for other risk markers, as well as by age group, geography, and exposure type. Screening for risk markers among those with obesity and culturally appropriate obesity prevention initiatives could reduce the burden of cardio-metabolic disease.

Cardiometabolic Risk Markers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Youths: A Systematic Review of Data Quality and Population Prevalence

“…To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to investigate the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk markers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. This review builds on the findings of a previous publication by our team investigating potential determinants of cardiometabolic risk in this population group [ 52 ]. Our findings suggest that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have a substantial risk of obesity from early childhood and that the prevalence of obesity increases from childhood into youth, from 10.8% among 2–4-year-olds, compared to 32.1% among 18–24-year-olds, and prevalence of central adiposity of 50.8% among the older age group [ 32 ].…”

“…In the LSIC, children whose BMI z-score increased at 3-year follow-up were more likely to live in an environment with high financial stress (30.7% vs. 27.4%) and poor diet (33.3% vs. 26.9%) [ 34 ]. However, a recent review of the potential determinants of cardiometabolic risk among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youths by McKay et al found that evidence is largely lacking for this population group, and further research is needed, particularly looking at social and environmental factors [ 52 ].…”

Coumarins as Fungal Metabolites with Potential Medicinal Properties

“…This review follows the framework of collected articles published between 2001 and 2022 in the form of original research articles, articles with their full text and data available, and studies that explore the pharmacological effects of coumarin in various types of diseases. Following a common search strategy [ 179 ], reference lists of included articles and relevant reviews were searched for any additional publications not captured.…”

Social and Behavioural Correlates of High Physical Activity Levels among Aboriginal Adolescent Participants of the Next Generation: Youth Wellbeing Study

“…Adolescence is often a period of significant change and an opportunity to develop healthy lifestyle behaviours that may carry into adulthood and contribute to good health [ 2 ]. Physical activity involves body movement that increases energy expenditure, includes different types and contexts such as exercise and sport participation as well as varying frequency, duration and intensity, and has health and wellbeing benefits for adolescents and young people [ 4 , 5 ]. Physical activity has been identified as a priority for holistic health and wellbeing by Aboriginal adolescents and young people [ 6 ].…”