Publications by authors named "E W BEST"

Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a childhood vasculitis which causes coronary artery aneurysms (CAA). There is a paucity of data regarding KD in Aotearoa New Zealand. We aimed to provide up-to-date epidemiological and clinical data about KD in the Auckland region.

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Objectives: COVID-19 severity prediction scores need further validation due to evolving COVID-19 illness. We evaluated existing COVID-19 risk prediction scores in Aotearoa New Zealand, including for Māori and Pacific peoples who have been inequitably affected by COVID-19.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study in adults hospitalized with COVID-19 from January to May 2022, including all Māori and Pacific patients, and every second non-Māori, non-Pacific (NMNP) patient to achieve equal analytic power by ethnic grouping.

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Article Synopsis
  • There has been a notable rise in childhood invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Aotearoa New Zealand following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and changes in vaccination protocols.
  • A study observed 93 cases of IPD in children under 5 from 2021 to 2023, predominantly affecting Pacific children, with a significant percentage linked to the serotype 19A, known for causing severe conditions like empyema and meningitis.
  • The findings highlight the need for urgent enhancements in pneumococcal vaccination coverage, particularly with the PCV13 vaccine, to combat the rise in cases and protect vulnerable populations.
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According to the life course perspective (LCP), optimal human development and healthy aging are key goals that must start preconceptionally and continue later in life. However, older adult health and family health across generations have received very little attention in maternal and child health (MCH). Community-based participatory research (CBPR) is an important strategy for putting the LCP into action by engaging those communities most affected by health disparities.

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Background: Isolation of cases and quarantining of non-immune contacts are the mainstay of measles outbreak management in elimination settings. Serology testing of exposed contacts may not be feasible in large outbreaks; therefore, vaccination history is used as a proxy for determining immunity to measles and thus prevention of onward virus transmission. This study sought to investigate the risk of measles virus transmission from individuals with a history of one or two doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV).

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