Assessment of health-related quality of life and psychological well-being of children and adolescents with obesity enrolled in a New Zealand community-based intervention programme: an observational study.

Objective: To describe health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and psychological well-being of children and adolescents at enrolment in a multidisciplinary community-based obesity programme and to determine association with ethnicity. This programme targeted indigenous people and those from most deprived households. Further, this cohort was compared with other populations/normative data.

Respiratory virus detection during hospitalisation for lower respiratory tract infection in children under 2 years in South Auckland, New Zealand.

Aim: To describe respiratory virus detection in children under 2 years of age in a population admitted with lower respiratory infection and to assess correlation with measures of severity.

Methods: Nasopharyngeal aspirates from infants admitted with lower respiratory tract infection (n = 1645) over a 3-year time period were tested by polymerase chain reaction. We collected epidemiological and clinical data on all children.

Physical activity is low in obese New Zealand children and adolescents.

We aimed to describe physical activity and sedentary behaviour of obese children and adolescents in Taranaki, New Zealand, and to determine how these differ in Māori (indigenous) versus non-indigenous children. Participants (n = 239; 45% Māori, 45% New Zealand European [NZE], 10% other ethnicities) aged 4.8-16.

Dietary Intake and Eating Behaviours of Obese New Zealand Children and Adolescents Enrolled in a Community-Based Intervention Programme.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe dietary intake and eating behaviours of obese children and adolescents, and also to determine how these differ in Indigenous versus non-Indigenous children at enrolment in an obesity programme.

Methods: Baseline dietary intake and eating behaviour records were assessed from those enrolled in a clinical unblinded randomised controlled trial of a multi-disciplinary intervention. The setting was a community-based obesity programme in Taranaki, New Zealand.

Prevalence of comorbidities in obese New Zealand children and adolescents at enrolment in a community-based obesity programme.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics at enrolment of children and adolescents referred to an obesity programme and to determine how the prevalence of comorbidities differed in Indigenous versus non-Indigenous children.

Methods: Participants were residents of a semi-rural region of New Zealand (NZ). Eligibility was defined by a body mass index (BMI) of ≥98th percentile or >91st centile with weight-related comorbidities.

The effect of a multi-disciplinary obesity intervention compared to usual practice in those ready to make lifestyle changes: design and rationale of Whanau Pakari.

Background: Child obesity internationally has been identified as one of the major threats to future population health. Indigenous people and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds are over-represented in obesity statistics. There is a need for evidence of effect of interventions for child obesity with long-term follow-up.

Impact of pneumococcal vaccine on hospital admission with lower respiratory infection in children resident in South Auckland, New Zealand.

Aim: To assess the change in admission rates for all Lower Respiratory Infection (LRI) including pneumonia for children resident in Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) with the introduction of the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 7 valent (PCV7) in June 2008.

Method: National Minimum dataset ICD10 coded LRI admissions to any NZ hospital August 2001-July 2011 for children <2 year resident in CMDHB were analysed using Poisson regression, omitting 1 August 2008 to 31 July 2009, the first-year post vaccine introduction.

Results: Pneumonia but not bronchiolitis admissions have been declining since 2001.

Polycystic ovary syndrome and depression in New Zealand adolescents.

Objective: To determine whether adolescents with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more depressed than adolescent girls in the community and to examine factors associated with depression.

Design: An observational study comparing clinical and community samples.

Setting: Two specialist reproductive endocrine clinics in Auckland, New Zealand.

Incidence of acute rheumatic fever in New Zealand children and youth.

Aim:   To estimate acute rheumatic fever (ARF) incidence rates for New Zealand children and youth by ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation and region.

Methods:   National hospital admissions with a principal diagnosis of ARF (ICD9_AM 390-392; ICD10-AM I00-I02) were obtained from routine statistics and stratified by age, ethnicity, socioeconomic deprivation index (NZDep2006) and District Health Board (DHB).

Results:   The mean incidence rate for ARF in 2000-2009 peaked at 9 to 12 years of age.

Mortality and hospitalisation costs of rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease in New Zealand.

Aims:   To estimate the annual mortality and the cost of hospital admissions for acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) for New Zealand residents.

Methods:   Hospital admissions in 2000-2009 with a principal diagnosis of ARF or RHD (ICD9_AM 390-398; ICD10-AM I00-I099) and deaths in 2000-2007 with RHD as the underlying cause were obtained from routine statistics. The cost of each admission was estimated by multiplying its diagnosis-related group (DRG) cost weight by the national price for financial year 2009/2010.

The New Zealand National Eye Bank study: trends in the acquisition and storage of corneal tissue over the decade 2000 to 2009.

Purpose: To evaluate trends in the acquisition, storage, and utilization of donated corneal tissue in New Zealand, 2000 to 2009.

Methods: The New Zealand National Eye Bank records were analyzed for the decade January 2000 to December 2009. Variables analyzed included donor demographics (age, sex, and ethnicity), donor source, donor cause of death, death-to-preservation interval (DPI), corneal storage time, tissue contamination, endothelial assessment, cornea suitability for transplantation, and corneal tissue utilization.

Trends in the distribution of donor corneal tissue and indications for corneal transplantation: the New Zealand National Eye Bank Study 2000-2009.

Background: To investigate the indications for corneal transplantation and the distribution of donor corneal tissue in New Zealand.

Design: Analysis of the prospective database of the New Zealand National Eye Bank.

Participants: A total of 2205 corneal transplants were assessed.

Immunogenicity and tolerability in infants of a New Zealand epidemic strain meningococcal B outer membrane vesicle vaccine.

Background: An outer membrane vesicle meningococcal vaccine (MeNZB), was developed for the New Zealand epidemic strain of Neisseria meningitidis B:4:P1.7-2,4.

Methods: A phase II, randomized, observer blind, controlled study evaluating the safety, reactogenicity, and immunogenicity of MeNZB administered with routine New Zealand immunizations at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 5 months of age (n = 375).

Relationships of low serum vitamin D3 with anthropometry and markers of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes in overweight and obesity.

Low serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D3) is known to perturb cellular function in many tissues, including the endocrine pancreas, which are involved in obesity and type II diabetes mellitus (TIIDM). Vitamin D3 insufficiency has been linked to obesity, whether obesity is assessed by body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (waist). Central obesity, using waist as the surrogate, is associated with the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), insulin resistance, TIIDM and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Geographically separate outbreaks of shigellosis in Auckland, New Zealand, linked by molecular subtyping to cases returning from Samoa.

Aim: To investigate simultaneous outbreaks of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis occurring in February 2001 at a health camp for socially deprived children and an elderly care facility.

Methods: Those with symptoms were interviewed using a standardised questionnaire. Cases were defined as having at least three loose stools over a 24 hour period and stool samples requested.