The South Australian Dental Longitudinal Study has been the first comprehensive dental longitudinal study of older adults to be conducted in Australia. Participants were aged 60+ years at the 1991 baseline data collection, and were a random sample of community-dwelling older adults in urban Adelaide and rural Mount Gambier. The 11-year follow-up data collection will build upon the previous study findings to provide important and new information about the onset and progression of oral diseases in ....The South Australian Dental Longitudinal Study has been the first comprehensive dental longitudinal study of older adults to be conducted in Australia. Participants were aged 60+ years at the 1991 baseline data collection, and were a random sample of community-dwelling older adults in urban Adelaide and rural Mount Gambier. The 11-year follow-up data collection will build upon the previous study findings to provide important and new information about the onset and progression of oral diseases in older Australians. It will also assist with the identification of general health and other characteristics (socio-demographic, medical, functional, cognitive, nutritional, swallowing, dental history, oral hygiene care, financial, social support and oral disorder social impact characteristics) that are associated with oral diseases in various groups of older adults. Groups of older adults within the study include those who are healthy and living in the community, those who are frail and use support services, and those who have moved into residential care. This information will assist both private and public health sectors, dental professionals and other health professionals with the identification of those older adults who are at high risk for developing oral diseases, such as those with dementia, those with physical disabilities, and those living in residential care. This 11-year data collection will be one of only 4 similar international studies currently being conducted, and will provide important comparison data for future studies of older Australians.Read moreRead less
Melanoma is one of Australia?s major cancer problems, but we still do not completely understand why certain people are at higher risk than others. This study is focussed on people who have developed melanoma at an early age (under 40yrs) and will compare their family history of cancer, skin features, genetic characteristics and various aspects of their previous sun exposure with people who don?t have melanoma. The large number of people involved and the fact that they will be selected at random ....Melanoma is one of Australia?s major cancer problems, but we still do not completely understand why certain people are at higher risk than others. This study is focussed on people who have developed melanoma at an early age (under 40yrs) and will compare their family history of cancer, skin features, genetic characteristics and various aspects of their previous sun exposure with people who don?t have melanoma. The large number of people involved and the fact that they will be selected at random from the population of Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane which have very different melanoma rates, means that the study will be able to clarify what roles genes and environment play in the disease. It is intended to be an international benchmark in this regard, and Australia is the only country in which a study of this scope could be mounted. Potential benefits from this research will be a better understanding of the way sun exposure affects people differently, depending on their genetic makeup, the place of genetic testing in assessing people?s risk of melanoma, particularly if they have relatives with the disease, and way in which skin features like moles should be taken into account in that assessment. Finally, it is likely that better information about the types of genetic susceptibility to melanoma in the population will translate to more effective programs for the prevention of melanoma and for detection of melanomas efficiently at the earliest possible stage.Read moreRead less
Familial, Behavioural And Environmental Determinants Of Respiratory And Metabolic Fitness In Regional South Australia.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$287,321.00
Summary
South Australia is the fattest state in Australia. Limited health surveillance data suggests that Whyalla is fatter, less active, consumes more alcohol and has worse respiratory health than Adelaide. Obesity is linked to poorer respiratory health. Public concern over the effects of air pollution on the health of Whyalla families has prompted us to examine respiratory and metabolic health in Whyalla families in comparison to those in the north-west suburbs of Adelaide.
Genetic and environmental causes of asthma are poorly understood. The WATCH for asthma project will study Western Australian (WA) families in which there was a twin or higher order multiple birth (twin families) in order to measure inherited and environmental contributions to the development of asthma. All WA twin families, whose infants were born during 1990 to 1995, will be invited to become part of an existing Healthway funded, population based registry of WA Twin Child Health (the WATCH stud ....Genetic and environmental causes of asthma are poorly understood. The WATCH for asthma project will study Western Australian (WA) families in which there was a twin or higher order multiple birth (twin families) in order to measure inherited and environmental contributions to the development of asthma. All WA twin families, whose infants were born during 1990 to 1995, will be invited to become part of an existing Healthway funded, population based registry of WA Twin Child Health (the WATCH study). The WATCH study has already invited 2,751 WA twin families to participate and is the only population based twin study in Australia. Funding of this study by NH and MRC will enable the extension of this unique registry to include more specific clinical information about those families in which one or more of the twins has asthma. In addition to questionnaire data, DNA and physiological information will be collected, including a potentially important new measure of airway inflammation, exhaled nitric oxide which has yet to be studied for familial aggregation. We will use the extended WATCH dataset to undertake a comprehensive investigation of the genetic epidemiology of childhood asthma. This work offers the potential to advance our current understanding of the causes of both childhood asthma and associated traits (e.g., 'twitchy' airways). By exploring the relationships between different components of asthma, we will generate information to assist us to design better epidemiological and genetic studies of asthma. At the time of recruitment, if consent is given, blood will also be taken for DNA extraction and frozen storage. This will generate a powerful data base that can later be used for to search at a molecular level for genes potentially important in causing childhood asthma. Finally, by extending the WATCH study database we will be enhancing a research resource that could potentially be used for future studies of common complex diseases other than asthma.Read moreRead less
Adaptations Of Methods For Estimation Of Familial Correlation In Age At Onset Of Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$146,250.00
Summary
Chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer and non-insulin dependent diabetes are responsible for a significant burden of ill-health in society. Studies of familial aggregation are important in determining the relative magnitude of genetic and lifestyle-environment factors associated with chronic diseases, and in identifying individuals and families at high risk, even in the absence of conventional risk factors. The findings have implications for health promo ....Chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, breast cancer, prostate cancer and non-insulin dependent diabetes are responsible for a significant burden of ill-health in society. Studies of familial aggregation are important in determining the relative magnitude of genetic and lifestyle-environment factors associated with chronic diseases, and in identifying individuals and families at high risk, even in the absence of conventional risk factors. The findings have implications for health promotion in the general population and disease prevention in those identified to be at high risk. An outstanding characteristics of these studies is that many participants had an event at some unknown time before the entry. This project aims at adapting current methods to properly account for events before entry and to provide estimates of familial aggregation between parents, between children and between parents and children in the same model. Furthermore, it provides freely available software for proper familial analyses which have not had any feasible numerical methods (or software). In addition, it provides estimates of familial aggregation of coronary heart disease in Busselton families which has longer follow-up than most other studies. This project is very cost effective as the Busselton Health Study consists of a series of cross-sectional surveys since 1968 and currently has hospital morbidity and death follow-up from medical record linkage until the end of 1997.Read moreRead less
Maternal Health After Childbirth: A Prospective Cohort Study Of 1900 Nulliparous Women Recruited In Early Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,150.00
Summary
Recent research highlights a concerning burden of ill health in recent mothers. Common health problems in the year after birth are chronic exhaustion, persisting pain, urinary incontinence, bowel problems, sexual problems and depression. This study will investigate the incidence, onset, severity and duration of health problems in the first 18 months after childbirth. A major focus of the study will be on the extent to which common health problems affecting women after childbirth occur as new pro ....Recent research highlights a concerning burden of ill health in recent mothers. Common health problems in the year after birth are chronic exhaustion, persisting pain, urinary incontinence, bowel problems, sexual problems and depression. This study will investigate the incidence, onset, severity and duration of health problems in the first 18 months after childbirth. A major focus of the study will be on the extent to which common health problems affecting women after childbirth occur as new problems in pregnancy, or after childbirth. This involves following women having a first child and measuring their health in pregnancy and the first year after birth. 1900 women having a first birth will be recruited to the study in early pregnancy, and followed up until 18 months after the birth. A major aim of the study is to provide stronger evidence about the role of pregnancy and birth factors in physical health problems after birth. In particular, the study will examine the contribution of method of delivery to pelvic floor disorders (urinary and anal incontinence, perineal pain and sexual problems). The study will also examine reasons why many women choose not to discuss physical and emotional health problems with health professionals in the postnatal period. The influence of cultural, social and economic factors on health service use and disclosure of maternal health problems will be explored. The study will provide the first Australian data on new health problems experienced for the first time after childbirth, and the extent to which pregnancy, labour and birth contribute to subsequent ill-health. The findings will provide stronger evidence on which to base the care of women during childbirth,development and evaluation of primary and secondary prevention strategies, and information to women and their families regarding the risks of obstetric procedures, such as caesarean section and vaginal birth assisted with forceps.Read moreRead less
Contextual Influences On Children's And Adolescent's Physical Activity
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$440,950.00
Summary
Physical inactivity has been linked to several chronic health conditions among children and adolescents. However, there has been no research that has examined the long-term physical activity habits of Australian children and how these habits change as children move into adolescence. In addition, there is only limited information regarding the factors that influence children's physical activity. This study aims to examine changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, such as television v ....Physical inactivity has been linked to several chronic health conditions among children and adolescents. However, there has been no research that has examined the long-term physical activity habits of Australian children and how these habits change as children move into adolescence. In addition, there is only limited information regarding the factors that influence children's physical activity. This study aims to examine changes in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, such as television viewing and computer use, that occur over three years, and also over five years, among children aged 5-6 years and 10-12 years in 2001 (baseline). As such, this study will provide information about children's physical activity habits through primary school and from late primary school to the end of secondary school. The study will also examine the influence of the family and neighbourhood environment on changes that occur in physical activity and sedentary behaviour over that time. This study is significant because it will provide information on the critical transition period between primary and secondary school. The study will identify when changes in these health behaviours occur, the extent of these changes, and the influence of factors in the family environment and the local neighbourhood on changes in these behaviours. Such information is vital to inform the development of strategies to promote and maintain health-enhancing physical activity levels and reduce sedentariness among children.Read moreRead less
A Prospective Study Of Health, Social And Forensic Outcomes In Young Offenders.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$189,000.00
Summary
In our environment of increasing illicit drug abuse and violent crime, there is an urgent need to gain an understanding of the forensic, health and social factors leading to offending by young people in Australia. Little research has been conducted worldwide looking at the health profile of young people offending across the entire spectrum of seriousness, and we could not find any studies examining this population in Australia. Most reports concern offenders who have received custodial sentences ....In our environment of increasing illicit drug abuse and violent crime, there is an urgent need to gain an understanding of the forensic, health and social factors leading to offending by young people in Australia. Little research has been conducted worldwide looking at the health profile of young people offending across the entire spectrum of seriousness, and we could not find any studies examining this population in Australia. Most reports concern offenders who have received custodial sentences, the most serious end of the offending spectrum. Furthermore, overseas studies are of limited usefulness in the Australian context, as it is difficult to apply observations from communities where the social, ethnic and crime profile may be markedly dissimilar. We propose to interview 450 young people immediately after they obtain their first sentence, usually a community-based order. The problems we will ask about include depression and anxiety, heavy alcohol consumption, heavy use of cannabis and other illegal drugs, deliberate self harm, sexual risk taking behaviour and offending behaviour. We will also ask about the social circumstances, friends and family structure and support. We will then repeat this interview six months later. In addition, we will monitor the participants' compliance with their order, treatment programs they may be on and re-offending until the end of data collection. The study will give us the basis to examine continuity and inter-relationship between problems such as depression and substance abuse, social factors and continued offending. Further, the study will establish a framework to follow-up these young offenders in the medium and long-term. The development of this sound and thorough research program will provide a rational basis for the planning of preventative interventions, aimed at improving the health and welfare and at reducing recidivism in this marginalised and often disadvantaged group of young people.Read moreRead less