Environmental impact of inhaled medicines: A Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand position statement.

Globally, more than 1.2 billion inhalers are purchased for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) annually. In Australia and New Zealand, pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are the leading delivery device prescribed and pMDI salbutamol can be purchased over the counter in Australia.

Evaluation of risk prediction scores for adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in a highly-vaccinated population, Aotearoa New Zealand 2022.

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.

COVID-19-related hospitalizations among Aotearoa, New Zealand children during the Omicron era of SARS-CoV-2.

Objectives: This multicenter cohort study describes Aotearoa New Zealand children hospitalized during the country's first wave of sustained SARS-CoV-2 transmission, Omicron variant.

Methods: Children younger than 16 years, hospitalized for >6 hours with COVID-19 across New Zealand from January to May 2022 were included. Admissions for all Māori and Pacific and every second non-Maori non-Pacific children were selected to support equal explanatory power for ethnic grouping.

Predictors of lung function in early adulthood: A population-based cohort study.

Background And Objective: Lung function reaches a peak/plateau in early adulthood before declining with age. Lower early adult lung function may increase the risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in mid-late adult life. Understanding the effects of multiple childhood/adolescent exposures and their potential interactions on plateau lung function would provide insights into the natural history of COPD.

The carbon footprint of as-needed budesonide/formoterol in mild asthma: a analysis.

Introduction: The use of pressurised metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) and asthma exacerbations necessitating healthcare reviews contribute substantially to the global carbon footprint of healthcare. It is possible that a reduction in carbon footprint could be achieved by switching patients with mild asthma from salbutamol pMDI reliever-based therapy to inhaled corticosteroid-formoterol dry powder inhaler (DPI) reliever therapy, as recommended by the Global Initiative for Asthma.

Methods: This analysis included all 668 adult participants in the Novel START trial, who were randomised 1:1:1 to treatment with as-needed budesonide/formoterol DPI, as-needed salbutamol pMDI or maintenance budesonide DPI plus as-needed salbutamol pMDI.

Distinct trajectories of lung function from childhood to mid-adulthood.

Rationale: Life course trajectories of lung function development and decline influence the risk for lung disease but are poorly documented.

Objective: To document lung function trajectories from childhood to mid-adult life.

Methods: We modelled forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV/FVC at ages 9, 11, 13, 15, 18, 21, 26, 32, 38 and 45 years from a population-based cohort using latent profile analysis to identify distinct subgroups of participants with similar lung function trajectories.

Lung function and cardiovascular risk at age 45 in a cohort of the general population.

Background: Impaired lung function is associated with cardiovascular mortality, but the origins of this association are poorly understood. We investigated associations between lung function and cardiovascular risk scores in a general population cohort of men and women aged 45 years.

Methods: Participants are members of an unselected birth cohort followed to adulthood.

Attitudes towards the mixing of COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in multi-bed hospital rooms.

Aim: To explore patient and staff views about the mixing of COVID-19 vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in multi-bed hospital rooms.

Methods: We conducted a mixed methods study with paper surveys and structured interviews. Self-administered surveys were undertaken with inpatients on the general medicine, general surgery, orthopaedic and respiratory wards in Dunedin Public Hospital.

Childhood and Adolescent Television Viewing and Metabolic Syndrome in Mid-Adulthood.

Background: Excessive sedentary behaviors, such as television viewing or other screen time, may have adverse metabolic effects. We hypothesized that television viewing time in childhood would be associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome at 45 years of age.

Methods: We studied a population-based birth cohort born in Dunedin, New Zealand in 1972 and 1973.

Genetic associations with parental investment from conception to wealth inheritance in six cohorts.

Genetic inheritance is not the only way parents' genes may affect children. It is also possible that parents' genes are associated with investments into children's development. We examined evidence for links between parental genetics and parental investments, from the prenatal period through to adulthood, using data from six population-based cohorts in the UK, US and New Zealand, together totalling 36,566 parents.

Continuities in maternal substance use from early adolescence to parenthood: findings from the intergenerational cohort consortium.

Background: This study assessed the extent to which women's preconception binge drinking, tobacco use and cannabis use, reported prospectively in adolescence and young adulthood, predicted use of these substances during pregnancy and at 1 year postpartum.

Methods: Data were pooled from two intergenerational cohort studies: the Australian Temperament Project Generation 3 Study (395 mothers, 691 pregnancies) and the Victorian Intergenerational Health Cohort Study (398 mothers, 609 pregnancies). Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use were assessed in adolescence (13-18 years), young adulthood (19-29 years) and at ages 29-35 years for those transitioning to parenthood.

Investigating attitudes and insights into the global warming impact of inhalers.

Introduction: Inhalers are commonly used in the management of respiratory diseases. The propellants used in pressurised metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are potent greenhouse gases and carry a substantial global warming potential. Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are propellant-free alternatives that have fewer consequences on the environment, while being equally effective.

Childhood sexual abuse and pervasive problems across multiple life domains: Findings from a five-decade study.

The aim of this study was to use longitudinal population-based data to examine the associations between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and risk for adverse outcomes in multiple life domains across adulthood. In 937 individuals followed from birth to age 45y, we assessed associations between CSA (retrospectively reported at age 26y) and the experience of 22 adverse outcomes in seven domains (physical, mental, sexual, interpersonal, economic, antisocial, multi-domain) from young adulthood to midlife (26 to 45y). Analyses controlled for sex, socioeconomic status, prospectively reported child harm and household dysfunction adverse childhood experiences, and adult sexual assault, and considered different definitions of CSA.

The ill winds of COVID-19: How the pandemic improved respiratory health for some.

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Asthma control with ICS-formoterol reliever versus maintenance ICS and SABA reliever therapy: a post hoc analysis of two randomised controlled trials.

Background: In randomised controlled trials, as-needed inhaled corticosteroid (ICS)-formoterol reliever therapy reduces severe exacerbation risk compared with maintenance ICS plus short-acting beta-agonist (SABA) reliever in adolescent and adult asthma, but results in slightly worse control of asthma symptoms, as measured by mean Asthma Control Questionnaire-5 (ACQ-5) score.

Objective: To assess the levels and changes in asthma control for as-needed budesonide-formoterol versus maintenance budesonide plus SABA in post hoc analyses from the Novel START and PRACTICAL clinical trials.

Methods: The number and proportion of participants at study end in each ACQ-5 category ('well-controlled', 'partly controlled' or 'inadequately controlled' symptoms), and in each responder category based on the minimal clinically important difference for ACQ-5 of 0.

Parental history of positive development and child behavior in next generation offspring: A two-cohort prospective intergenerational study.

This study examined whether positive development (PD) in adolescence and young adulthood predicts offspring behavior in two Australasian intergenerational cohorts. The Australian Temperament Project Generation 3 Study assessed PD at age 19-28 (years 2002-2010) and behavior in 1165 infants (12-18 months; 608 girls) of 694 Australian-born parents (age 29-35; 2012-2019; 399 mothers). The Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Parenting Study assessed PD at age 15-18 (years 1987-1991) and behavior in 695 preschoolers (3-5 years; 349 girls) and their New Zealand born parents (age 21-46; 1994-2018; 363 mothers; 89% European ethnicity).

Feasibility study of the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection for Māori in the Waikato region, Aotearoa New Zealand.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the feasibility of conducting a representative tuberculin skin test (TST) survey for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand and to estimate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection.

Methods: Participants were Māori in the Waikato region, recruited by a Māori nurse, through: 1) random household selection from the Electoral Roll; 2) randomly selected prison inmates; and 3) community and health settings. A TB history and symptoms questionnaire was completed, TST performed and investigation of those with TST induration ≥10mm.

Clinical features of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 from February to October 2020, during the early waves of the pandemic in New Zealand.

Aim: As New Zealand transitions towards endemic SARS-CoV-2, understanding patient factors predicting severity, as well as hospital resourcing requirements will be essential for future planning.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients hospitalised with COVID-19 from 26 February to 5 October 2020 as part of the COVID-19 HospitalisEd Patient SeverIty Observational Study NZ (COHESION). Data on demographics, clinical course and outcomes were collected and analysed as a descriptive case series.

Lifetime cannabis exposure and small airway function in a population-based cohort study.

Background And Objective: The long-term effects of cannabis on small airway function remain unclear. We investigated associations between cannabis use and small airway function in a general population sample.

Methods: Cannabis use was ascertained at multiple ages from age 18 to 45 years and quantified as joint-years among 895 participants in the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study.