The Prevalence of Bronchodilator Responsiveness "Asthma" Among Adult Indigenous Australians Referred for Lung Function Testing in the Top End Northern Territory of Australia.

Background: Among Indigenous Australians, studies examining the clinical significance of airway bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) are limited. In this retrospective study, we examined the nature of underlying lung disease in adult Indigenous patients with BDR referred for lung function testing (LFT) in the Top End Health Service region of the Northern Territory of Australia.

Methods: Presence or absence of BDR as per usual (FVC or FEV change pre to post ≥12% and ≥0.

Characterisation of lung function trajectories and associated early-life predictors in an Australian birth cohort study.

Background: There is growing evidence that lung function in early-life predicts later lung function. Adverse events over the lifespan might influence an individual's lung function trajectory, resulting in poor respiratory health. The aim of this study is to identify early-life risk factors and their impact on lung function trajectories to prevent long-term lung impairments.

Implications of using the GLI-2012, GOLD and Australian COPD-X recommendations in assessing the severity of airflow limitation on spirometry among an Indigenous population with COPD: an Indigenous Australians perspective study.

Background: Assessment of airflow limitation (AFL) is crucial in the clinical evaluation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, in the absence of normative reference values among adult Australian Indigenous population, the implications of utilising the Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI-2012), Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the Australian concise COPD-X recommended severity classifications is not known. Moreover, spirometry values (forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV)) are observed to be 20%-30% lower in an apparently healthy Indigenous population in comparison to Caucasian counterparts.

Comparison of diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) and total lung capacity (TLC) between Indigenous Australians and Australian Caucasian adults.

Background And Objective: Currently there is paucity of evidence in the literature in relation to normative values for diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) and total lung capacity (TLC) among Indigenous Australians. Hence, in this study we assessed the DLCO and TLC parameters among Indigenous Australians in comparison to Australian Caucasian counterparts.

Methods: DLCO and TLC values were assessed and compared between Indigenous Australians and Australian Caucasians matched for age, sex and body mass index, with normal chest radiology.

Lung function parameters among Australian Aboriginal 'apparently healthy' adults: an Australian Caucasian and Global Lung Function Initiative (GLI-2012) various ethnic norms comparative study.

: There is sparse literature evidence evaluating the applicability of the GLI-2012 spirometric norms for Australian Aboriginal adults.: Lung function parameters (LFPs) were compared between Australian Aboriginal and Australian Caucasians, and the fit of Australian Aboriginals LFPs with various ethnic GLI equations was tested.: Of 1350 and 5634 Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in Australian Aboriginal and Australian Caucasian adults, 153 and 208 PFTs matched for anthropometrics and normal chest radiology, respectively.

Persistent activation of interlinked type 2 airway epithelial gene networks in sputum-derived cells from aeroallergen-sensitized symptomatic asthmatics.

Atopic asthma is a persistent disease characterized by intermittent wheeze and progressive loss of lung function. The disease is thought to be driven primarily by chronic aeroallergen-induced type 2-associated inflammation. However, the vast majority of atopics do not develop asthma despite ongoing aeroallergen exposure, suggesting additional mechanisms operate in conjunction with type 2 immunity to drive asthma pathogenesis.

Mannitol challenge testing for asthma in a community cohort of young adults.

Background And Objective: Mannitol challenge testing is an established tool for clinical asthma diagnosis, and can be performed outside of specialized respiratory laboratories. Despite applicability in both clinical and non-clinical populations, with different pre-test asthma probabilities, differences in diagnostic properties have not been well explored. This study aimed to quantify the diagnostic utility of mannitol challenge testing for asthma in a community cohort and a symptomatic wheezing subset of this cohort.

Rationale, design and methods for the 22 year follow-up of the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study.

Background: Young adulthood is a critical life period for health and health behaviours. Related measurements collected before and after birth, and during childhood and adolescence can provide a life-course analysis of important factors that contribute to health and behaviour in young adulthood. The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study has collected a large number of such measurements during the fetal, perinatal, infancy, childhood and adolescence periods and plans to relate them to common health issues and behaviours in young adults, including spinal pain, asthma, sleep disorders, physical activity and sedentary behaviour and, work absenteeism and presenteeism.