Prior Cardiovascular Treatments-A Key Characteristic in Determining Medication Adherence After an Acute Myocardial Infarction.

To investigate long-term adherence to guideline-recommended cardioprotective medications following hospitalization for an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and identify characteristics associated with adherence. An Australian population-based cohort study was used to identify participants who had their first AMI between 2006 and 2014 and were alive after 12 months. Linked routinely collected hospital, and prescription medication claims data was used to study adherence over time.

Prevalence, incidence and risk factors of diabetes in Australian adults aged ≥45 years: A cohort study using linked routinely-collected data.

Aims: To use linked routinely-collected health data to estimate diabetes prevalence and incidence in an Australian cohort of adults aged ≥45 years, and examine risk factors associated with incident disease.

Research Design And Methods: The EXamining ouTcomEs in chroNic Disease in the 45 and Up Study (EXTEND45) Study is a linked data study that combines baseline questionnaire responses from the population-based (2006-2009,  = 267,153) with multiple routinely-collected health databases up to December 2014. Among participants with ≥1 linked result for any laboratory test, diabetes status was determined from multiple data sources according to standard biochemical criteria, use of glucose-lowering medication or self-report, and the prevalence and incidence rate calculated.

General practitioner follow-up after hospitalisation in Central and Eastern Sydney, Australia: access and impact on health services.

Objectives General practitioner (GP) follow-up after a hospital admission is an important indicator of integrated care. We examined the characteristics of patients who saw a GP within 2 weeks of hospital discharge in the Central and Eastern Sydney (CES) region, Australia, and the relationship between GP follow-up and subsequent hospitalisation. Methods This data linkage study used a cohort of 10240 people from the 45 and Up Study who resided in CES and experienced an overnight hospitalisation in the 5 years following recruitment (2007-14).

Risk factors for incident kidney disease in older adults: an Australian prospective population-based study.

Background And Aim: To determine risk factors for incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a large population-based cohort.

Methods: This prospective opt-in population-based cohort study is based on the 45 and Up Study, where New South Wales residents aged ≥45 years were randomly sampled from the Services Australia database and agreed to complete the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire and have their responses linked to their health data in routinely collected databases. The primary outcome was the development of incident CKD, defined as eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.

Associations between rapid weight gain in infancy and weight status among urban Aboriginal children participating in the Gudaga study: nine-year results from a cohort study.

Background: Rapid weight gain (RWG) in infants is associated with overweight and obesity in childhood and beyond, highlighting the need for early intervention.

Methods: Data from a birth cohort of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children living in an urban area were analysed to determine the prevalence of RWG in infancy and the association between RWG and overweight and obesity, categorised using both body mass index and waist to height ratio from birth to 9 years.

Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity is higher in this cohort (at 47%) than the population average.

Oral health status, behaviours, food and beverage consumption of aboriginal children in Australia.

Issue Addressed: Dental decay is prevalent among Australian Aboriginal children, yet little is known about their oral health-related behaviours. This study explored the oral health status, behaviours, food and beverage consumption of Aboriginal school children aged 7-9 years in Sydney, Australia.

Methods: Parents who were part of an existing longitudinal birth cohort ("Gudaga") were surveyed when their child was between 7 and 9 years.

EXamining ouTcomEs in chroNic Disease in the 45 and Up Study (the EXTEND45 Study): Protocol for an Australian Linked Cohort Study.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes are the major causes of death and disability worldwide. They are associated with high health service utilization persisting over many years. Their slow progression and wide clinical variation make them eminently suitable for study in population-based cohorts.

Neighbourhood greenspace and physical activity and sedentary behaviour among older adults with a recent diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: a prospective analysis.

Objectives: Greenspace is one of the important factors that can promote an active lifestyle. Thus, greener surroundings may be a motivating factor for people with newly diagnosed diabetes to engage in more physical activity. Given that diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D) may serve as a window opportunity for behavioural modification, we hypothesise that the association between neighbourhood greenspace and physical activity among people with newly diagnosed T2D may be greater than those not diagnosed with T2D.

Do general practice management and/or team care arrangements reduce avoidable hospitalisations in Central and Eastern Sydney, Australia?

Background: The number of people living with chronic health conditions is increasing in Australia. The Chronic Disease Management program was introduced to Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to provide a more structured approach to managing patients with chronic conditions and complex care needs. The program supports General Practitioners (GP)s claiming for up to one general practice management plan (GPMP) and one team care arrangement (TCA) every year and the patient claiming for up to five private allied health visits.

Understanding the use and impact of allied health services for people with chronic health conditions in Central and Eastern Sydney, Australia: a five-year longitudinal analysis.

Aim: To describe the characteristics of people in Central and Eastern Sydney (CES), NSW, who had a General Practice Management Plan (GPMP) and claimed for at least one private allied health service item; and to examine if allied health service use results in less hospitalisations over a five-year period.

Background: The number of people living with chronic health conditions is increasing in Australia. The Chronic Disease Management programme was introduced to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to provide a more structured approach to managing patients with chronic conditions and complex care needs.

Evaluation of the acceptability and clinical utility of an Arabic-language mindfulness CD in an Australian community setting.

The cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity of Australia's population presents challenges for mental health service delivery. Arabic-speaking communities in Australia underutilise mental health services despite high levels of trauma and psychological distress. Clinicians who work with this population lack linguistically and culturally appropriate clinical resources.

Increasing use of general practice management and team care arrangements over time in New South Wales, Australia.

The number of older people living with chronic health conditions is increasing in Australia. The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) items program was introduced to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to encourage a more structured approach to managing patients with chronic conditions. Initial uptake was slow and recent research has suggested that uptake is decreasing.

Participation in Hospital in the Home for patients in inner metropolitan Sydney: implications for access and equity.

Objective The aim of this study was to identify whether the Hospital in the Home (HITH) program was taken up equitably by eligible patients in relation to their age, sex, country of birth, place of residence and primary diagnosis. Methods This study presents results of a descriptive analysis of the administrative records of 3552 people with specific conditions who met the study criteria of potential eligibility to HITH and resided within the health district boundary. Results Systematic differences were found for participation in HITH and in-patient care according to sex, language spoken at home and socioeconomic status based on place of residence.

The effectiveness of a sustained nurse home visiting intervention for Aboriginal infants compared with non-Aboriginal infants and with Aboriginal infants receiving usual child health care: a quasi-experimental trial - the Bulundidi Gudaga study.

Background: In Australia there is commitment to developing interventions that will 'Close the Gap' between the health and welfare of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and recognition that early childhood interventions offer the greatest potential for long term change. Nurse led sustained home visiting programs are considered an effective way to deliver a health and parenting service, however there is little international or Australian evidence that demonstrates the effectiveness of these programs for Aboriginal infants. This protocol describes the Bulundidi Gudaga Study, a quasi-experimental design, comparing three cohorts of families from the Macarthur region in south western Sydney to explore the effectiveness of the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting (MECSH) program for Aboriginal families.

The oral health behaviours and fluid consumption practices of young urban Aboriginal preschool children in south-western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Issue Addressed: Australian Aboriginal children have a higher risk of dental caries yet there is limited focus on oral health risk factors for urban Aboriginal preschool children. This study examined the oral health behaviours and fluid consumption practices of young children from an urban Aboriginal community in south-western Sydney, Australia.

Methods: In total, 157 Aboriginal children who were recruited to the "Gudaga" longitudinal birth cohort participated in this study.

Lifestyle Changes After a Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.

Objective: Whether patients with type 2 diabetes change their lifestyle in response to their diagnosis and maintain behavior changes is unclear. This study aimed to ) compare changes in lifestyle behaviors among participants who were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and those never diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and ) investigate changes in lifestyle behaviors in relation to the duration of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

Methods: We used self-reported information from the New South Wales 45 and Up Study and a follow-up study.

Research culture and capacity in community health services: results of a structured survey of staff.

Developing research capacity is recognised as an important endeavour. However, little is known about the current research culture, capacity and supports for staff working in community-based health settings. A structured survey of Division of Community Health staff was conducted using the research capacity tool.

The 45 and Up Study: a tool for local population health and health service planning to improve integration of healthcare.

Data on patient access to, and use of, primary and secondary care services are a potential tool for population health and health service planning, and for researchers. The Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study was established to support research about healthy ageing. This paper considers how data from the 45 and Up Study could be useful to Local Health Districts and the Primary Health Networks in New South Wales to support their work, particularly in evaluating integration of primary and secondary health services.

Pap smear screening, pap smear abnormalities and psychosocial risk factors among women in a residential alcohol and drug rehabilitation facility.

Aim: To compare rates of late- screening, abnormal Pap smears and prevalence of psychosocial factors for cervical cancer between women in the community and women attending a residential drug and alcohol facility.

Background: Women with drug and alcohol addiction experience higher rates of abnormal Pap smears, late- or under- screening and psychosocial risk factors including domestic violence and sexual assault.

Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study of women attending publically funded women's health clinics in the community or in a live-in residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility.

Variation in the use of primary care services for diabetes management according to country of birth and geography among older Australians.

Aims: To investigate variation according to country of birth and geography in the use of primary care services funded through Medicare Australia-Australian universal health insurance-for diabetes annual cycle of care among older overseas-born Australians with type-2 diabetes.

Methods: Records of Medicare claims for medical services were linked to self-administered questionnaire data for people with type-2 diabetes enrolled in the 45 and Up Study, including 840 participants born in Italy, Greece, Vietnam, Lebanon, China, India, or the Philippines and 12,444 participants born in Australia, living in 195 statistical local areas (SLAs) in New South Wales, Australia. Study outcomes included ≥6 claims for general practitioner (GP) visits, at least one claim for specialist, optometrist, Practice Incentive Payment for completion of diabetes annual cycle of care (PIP), GP Management Plan or Team Care Arrangement (GPMP/TCA), allied health, blood tests for glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and cholesterol, and urine test for micro-albumin.

Publication outputs from a Primary and Community Health Research Unit, 2011-14.

Publication of research is a goal of research capacity building initiatives. We reviewed the publications generated by practitioner researchers involved with the Primary and Community Health Research Unit (PCHRU), within the Division of Community Health in South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD), between 2011 and 2014. Publications were categorised using the Higher Education Research Data Collection Specifications.

Risk factors of incident type 2-diabetes mellitus over a 3-year follow-up: Results from a large Australian sample.

Aims: To describe the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among middle-aged and older Australian adults and to examine a broad range of risk factors of T2DM.

Methods: A large cohort of Australian adults aged 45 and up was sampled from the general population and was followed up for approximately 3 years (n=60,404). Physician-diagnosed T2DM was self-reported at baseline (2006-2008) and follow-up (2010).