What causes adult asthma, COPD and sleep disordered breathing
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Professor Shyamali Dharmage+613 8344 0737
Project Details
Chronic Respiratory Diseases (CRD) are major public health problems. In Australia, CRDs are the third leading cause of disability, the fifth leading cause of premature mortality and the third leading cause of total burden of disease. COPD (which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema) and asthma are the two major contributors to the burden of CRD. Asthma is a National Health Priority Area (NHPA). COPD is the most prominent of those chronic diseases with high disease burden that are not currently a focus of the NHPA initiative, but the ageing of the population it likely to see it become a NHPA. Progress has been slow in understanding modifiable risk factors in adult asthma and COPD – an understanding that is critical to preventing and managing these diseases more effectively. As such, adult asthma and COPD together remain the most enigmatic of adult chronic diseases. Sleep disordered breathing is another CRD that is becoming a becoming major public health problem, with its increasing prevalence and its consequences. It also has significant interrelationships with asthma and COPD. This study will investigate genetic risk factors, biological markers, clinical predictors and risk factors for these CRDs using the worlds' largest respiratory study that span over 6 decades.
Researchers
Associate Professor Lyle Gurrin
Professor Michael Abramson (Monash University)
Professor Peter Freith (Adelaide University)
Dr Garun Hamilton (Monash Medical Centre)
Professor Allan James (University of Western Australia)
Dr Melanie Matheson (Telstra Health)
Dr Stephen Morrson (Royal Brisbane Hospital, Queensland)
Professor Paul Thomas (University of New South Wales)
Professor Haydn Walters (University of Tasmania)
Funding
National Health and Medical Research Council
This project is part of the Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study
Research Publications
- Perret JL et al. The interplay between lifetime asthma, active smoking and atopy on lung function measures in middle-age. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2013 Jan 1;187(1):42-8. 117
- Matheson et al. Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies identifies 10 loci influencing allergic sensitization. Nature Genetics 2013; 45(8):902-6
Research Group
Faculty Research Themes
School Research Themes
Key Contact
For further information about this research, please contact the research group leader.
Department / Centre
Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics
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