Prevention of non-communicable diseases in Australia: What role should public health law play?

This article explores the role of public health law in the prevention of non-communicable diseases in Australia. The growing urgency to address these diseases is acknowledged and the definition of public health law explored. It is argued that a broad definition of public health law would allow greater recognition of the numerous ways that law can positively influence health outcomes at the population level.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Australasian Survivors of H1N1 Influenza Undergoing Mechanical Ventilation. A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Rationale: Patients surviving acute respiratory distress syndrome suffer decrements in physical function and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL); however, it is unclear whether HR-QoL is disproportionately affected in those with H1N1 influenza.

Objectives: The objective was to compare the HR-QoL of patients with a diagnosis of H1N1 influenza who were mechanically ventilated, 12 months after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge with healthy population data and ICU survivor data.

Methods: A prospective, observational, binational, multicenter cohort study was conducted in 11 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand during June-September 2009.