Despite the markedly reduced life span of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, reliable quantitative data on factors influencing health in later life is missing, limiting evidence-based care. The 45 and Up Study includes 1,934 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, within a general population-based cohort. Future work will focus on common sources of disability and morbidity, the relationship of physical and mental health, adult hearing loss and risk factors such as smoking. Indigenous inequalities in CVD and CVD care are considered below.