Research & Discovery
The world's longest respiratory health study involves thousands of Tasmanians
"All the participants, or 'probands' as they are scientifically known, have been part of the study since 1968, but they've never met en masse before.
Surprised faces are aplenty in the room as participants see old school mates, who they had no idea were part of the study." May 2nd, 2022
Premature Birth Linked to Lung Disease Later in Life
"New research shows a link between premature birth and obstructive lung disease after age 50, highlighting opportunities for reducing risk factors like smoking in people born preterm " - February 20th, 2022
Heating and Cooking At Home Linked to Asthma
"Wood heating, gas cooking and heating in the home are linked to an increased risk of asthma and more rapid decline in lung function " - June 7th, 2021
Childhood pneumonia and pleurisy lead to smaller lungs: Tasmanian study
"The research, from the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort, involved comprehensive measures of lung function in participants at age seven and again at ages 45 and 53. The study found that in 14.2% of children, parents reported their child had experienced a doctor-diagnosed pneumonia or pleurisy. This was associated with mildly obstructive pre-bronchodilator spirometry at age seven. " - November 6th, 2019
Sleep apnoea screening at GPs may be missing up to 64 per cent of cases
"CRITERIA allowing general practitioners to refer patients directly to a sleep study may be missing more than half of patients later found to have clinically relevant obstructive sleep apnoea, according to the authors of research published in the Medical Journal of Australia..."- May 27th, 2019
Three-quarters of COPD cases are linked to childhood risk factors that are exacerbated in adulthood
"Three-quarters of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cases have their origins in poor lung function pathways beginning in childhood. These pathways are associated with exposures in childhood, and amplified by factors in adulthood, according to a cohort study..."- April 5th, 2018
