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Our Aim
To improve heart health for future generations of Peoples of Fiji
Heart Disease in young People of Fiji
Urgent Need for Research on Peoples of Fiji
Including Peoples of Fiji in research is crucial because different genetic backgrounds can affect disease risk and how people respond to treatments. Without better representation in research, treatments might not work well or could even be harmful for under-represented groups.
Peoples of Fiji share ancestry with nearly 25% of the world's population however are represented in less than 2% of genetic studies.
The Fiji Heart Study is the first to examine their genetic risk for heart disease. Understanding the genetic reasons behind their early risk of heart disease is essential to develop early screening and personalised treatments.
People from Fiji experience heart disease at a younger age. One type called premature coronary artery disease (CAD) seems to run in families and can be linked to genetics. This means if a parent has it about half of their children and grandchildren might get it too. This occurs even without common risk factors like diabetes, obesity or smoking.
Furthermore, Peoples of Fiji make up only 2% of New Zealand's population however they experience 20% of coronary events under 40 years of age.
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