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The Evolution Of Childhood Obesity And Its Relationship To Adult Sleep Disordered Breathing
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$870,842.00
Summary
This project will characterise Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) in early adulthood. It will assess the prevalence of OSA in a well characterised cohort (the Raine Cohort), representative of the population of young adults in Western Australia. It will define the clinical picture and risk factors associated with abnormal breathing during sleep and will use the extensive longitudinal data collected from 18 weeks gestation until 23 years of age to quantify early life developmental and environmental pr ....This project will characterise Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) in early adulthood. It will assess the prevalence of OSA in a well characterised cohort (the Raine Cohort), representative of the population of young adults in Western Australia. It will define the clinical picture and risk factors associated with abnormal breathing during sleep and will use the extensive longitudinal data collected from 18 weeks gestation until 23 years of age to quantify early life developmental and environmental predictors that can inform public health policy.Read moreRead less
Risk Factors, Early Diagnosis, And Effective Interventions For Neurocognitive Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$7,013,299.00
Summary
This program will focus on early detection of dementia, identification of novel risk factors, and development of new treatments, to help the burden of dementia in our community. It will build on three longitudinal studies – Memory and Ageing Study, Older Australian Twins Study and Sydney Centenarian Study, and three international consortia – COSMIC, STROKOG and ICC-Dementia, that the investigators have developed to achieve these aims. A prevention trial for post-stroke dementia is planned
Evaluation Of The Obesity Paradox In Diabetes: A Longitudinal Case-Control Study Of Half A Million Patients
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$344,721.00
Summary
Obesity is a risk factor for developing diabetes. However, recent studies reported increased mortality risk associated with normal body weight in people with incident diabetes compared to overweight or obese patients. This “obesity paradox”, where being overweight appears to be protective, is new in diabetes. The mechanism behind this is not known. Using 20 years of follow-up data on 500,000 diabetes and control patients, this study proposes to find possible explanations behind obesity paradox.
The First Placebo-controlled Trial Of Opioid Analgesics For Acute Spinal Pain
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,024,067.00
Summary
Despite the widespread and increasing use of opioid analgesics, there is a complete lack of evidence on their efficacy in acute spinal pain. Concerns are also being raised because of the risks of potentially serious adverse events associated with opioid analgesics. In this world-first study, we will establish whether using opioid analgesics can effective reduce pain in people with acute spinal pain and provide rigorous evidence to inform the safe and appropriate use of this medicine.
Spinal Pain And Lifestyle-related Health Risk Factors; Disentangling The Relationship And Evaluating Better Management Strategies
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$425,048.00
Summary
Spinal pain and lifestyle health factors such as overweight, smoking and lack of physical activity are major problems in Australia. They cause huge personal suffering and enormous cost to the healthcare system. Despite the fact that spinal pain and lifestyle factors are often linked, their prevention and treatment are typically separate. This program of research aims to understand how spinal pain and lifestyle risk factors interact, to help make prevention and treatment for both more effective.
Clinical Outcomes, Safety And Incremental Cost Effectiveness Of Multi-level Airway Surgery In Patients With Moderate-severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Who Have Failed Medical Management
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$652,794.00
Summary
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a serious medical disorder with a high public health cost. OSA can be effectively treated but poor treatment compliance is a major clinical problem. As a consequence many OSA patients remain untreated, with significant implications for their long term health. New effective and safe therapies are needed. We believe that we will demonstrate a relatively straightforward, safe and effective surgical procedure for OSA after primary treatments fail. This will lead to ....Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a serious medical disorder with a high public health cost. OSA can be effectively treated but poor treatment compliance is a major clinical problem. As a consequence many OSA patients remain untreated, with significant implications for their long term health. New effective and safe therapies are needed. We believe that we will demonstrate a relatively straightforward, safe and effective surgical procedure for OSA after primary treatments fail. This will lead to improved patient outcomes.Read moreRead less
Implications Of Early Life And Contemporary Influences On Body Composition, Mental Health, And Precursors Of Chronic Diseases In The Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,335,405.00
Summary
Aboriginal babies across the Top End of the Northern Territory have been followed up for over 25 years as part of the Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study. The aim of this study is to relate early life events, beginning in the womb, to later physical and mental health. This will identify early those most at risk of developing chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular, renal and mental health) that contribute to the current gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal Australians, and ....Aboriginal babies across the Top End of the Northern Territory have been followed up for over 25 years as part of the Aboriginal Birth Cohort Study. The aim of this study is to relate early life events, beginning in the womb, to later physical and mental health. This will identify early those most at risk of developing chronic diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular, renal and mental health) that contribute to the current gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal Australians, and help develop intervention strategies.Read moreRead less
Pregabalin In Addition To Usual Care For Sciatica (PRECISE): A Randomised, Placebo-controlled Trial
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$638,663.00
Summary
Sciatica is a severe and disabling form of back pain that is characterised by radiating pain down the leg. However there is little evidence on how best to treat it conservatively. We propose to investigate the effectiveness of pregabalin, a medication that specifically targets sciatic pain, in addition to usual care in 204 patients with sciatica. We hypothesise that adding pregabalin will be more effective in reducing the severity of leg pain.
Optimising Prevention And Treatment Strategies For Low Back Pain And Disability
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,160.00
Summary
Low back pain is a major public health problem worldwide. It is the most prevalent and costly musculoskeletal condition in Australia. Lifetime prevalence is reported to be as high as 80% in Australian adults and the total cost per annum is estimated to be $9.17 billion dollars. This research program will examine both prevention and treatment strategies for low back pain. The results may have significant implications for reducing the disability and socioeconomic burden associated with this condit ....Low back pain is a major public health problem worldwide. It is the most prevalent and costly musculoskeletal condition in Australia. Lifetime prevalence is reported to be as high as 80% in Australian adults and the total cost per annum is estimated to be $9.17 billion dollars. This research program will examine both prevention and treatment strategies for low back pain. The results may have significant implications for reducing the disability and socioeconomic burden associated with this condition.Read moreRead less