Stable prevalence of asthma symptoms in school‐aged children in the Torres Strait region

Valery, Patricia C.; Chang, Anne B.; Stirling, Janelle; Laifoo, Yancy; Twist, Aletia

doi:10.1111/j.1440-1843.2008.01239.x

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 18 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The prevalence of asthma symptoms was also studied in the Torres Strait region of Northern Australia, and the findings were compared with two previous studies. The investigators found a stable prevalence of various indices that included self‐reported wheeze (12.5%), exercise induced wheezing (5.9%) and having asthma (12.2%) 5 . The findings were broadly similar to the results of surveys done in mainland Australia, and the increase in asthma prevalence noted in recent years appears to have reached a plateau.…”

Section: Asthmasupporting

confidence: 64%

Respirology year‐in‐review 2008: Clinical science

Ruffin

Bardin

2009

Respirology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Asthmasupporting

confidence: 64%

Respirology year‐in‐review 2008: Clinical science

Ruffin

Bardin

2009

Respirology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…The cross-sectional study took place on 4 island communities: Thursday Island, Horn Island, Sue Island, and Mabuiag Island. Further details of the study have been previously described [22]. Briefly, the study was conducted in this region from April to September, 2003, in conjunction with a general health-screen program initiated by the local health district.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measurements included height, weight, and waist circumference (standardisation of these measurements have been described elsewhere) [22]. The majority of the data was collected by a nutritionist of Aboriginal descent (AM) and on the occasions by an Indigenous health worker.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All youths were asked about their frequency of physical activity (“How many days did you do physical activity in the last week”) [22]. When they were not sure about the question asked, the interviewer (AM) further explained by asking the children how many days of the past seven days had they engaged in physical activity or active play that raised their heart rate or caused them to “huff and puff”.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Diet, Physical Activity, and Obesity in School-Aged Indigenous Youths in Northern Australia

et al. 2012

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose. To examine the relationship between diet, physical activity, and obesity in Indigenous youths from northern Australia. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, physical activity and dietary intake (“short nutrition questionnaire”) were assessed among all youths during a face-to-face interview. For 92 high school youths, additional dietary information was assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire. Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess associations. Results. Of the 277 youths included, 52% had ≤2 servings of fruit and 84% had <4 servings of vegetables per day; 65% ate fish and 27%, take-away food (“fast food”) at least twice a week. One in four ate local traditional sea food including turtle and dugong (a local sea mammal) at least twice a week. Overweight/obese youths engaged in fewer days of physical activity in the previous week than normal weight youths (OR = 2.52, 95% CI 1.43–4.40), though patterns of physical activity differed by sex and age (P < 0.001). Overweight/obese youths were 1.89 times (95% CI 1.07–3.35) more likely to eat dugong regularly than nonobese youths. Analysis of food-frequency data showed no difference by weight assessment among high-school students. Conclusions. Low fruit and vegetable intake were identified in these Indigenous youths. Regular consumption of fried dugong and low frequency of physical activity were associated with overweight/obesity reinforcing the need to devise culturally appropriate health promotion strategies and interventions for Indigenous youths aimed at improving their diet and increasing their physical activity.

show abstract

“…The 158 youth described in this study were aged between 5 and 17 years and attended one of two primary schools on either Mabuiag Island (47 youth, 96% response rate) or Sue Island (43 youth, 100% response rate), or the high school on Thursday Island as boarders (68 youth, 97% response rate) since their families resided in the outer Torres Strait Islands. Full details of study design have been described elsewhere (12). Ethical approval was obtained from the Queensland Institute of Medical Research Human Ethics Committee.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Indigenous Australian youths

et al. 2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We conducted a cross-sectional study of Indigenous youths residing in the Torres Strait region of Australia to assess the prevalence of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Data on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood pressure, presence of acanthosis nigricans and blood glucose were collected. Fasting glucose, insulin, C-Peptide, HbA1c and lipids were measured, and an oral glucose tolerance test was performed in those with a BMI greater than 25 (childhood-equivalent cut-points) or fasting glucometer reading >5.5 mmol/L. Of 158 youths, 31% were overweight and 15% were obese, 38% had enlarged waist circumference consistent with central obesity, 43% had acanthosis nigricans and 27% were hypertensive. More females than males had enlarged waist circumferences (59% vs. 13%, P < 0.001). Among overweight or obese youth, 56% had significantly elevated insulin (P = 0.021); they also had higher HOMA-IR (P = 0.002). The metabolic syndrome was present in 17% of all youths (mostly females) and in 33% of the overweight or obese subgroup. Type 2 diabetes was diagnosed in two youths. These very high proportions of overweight or obese Torres Strait youth with metabolic risk factors have major public health implications.

show abstract

Stable prevalence of asthma symptoms in school‐aged children in the Torres Strait region

Abstract: Asthma prevalence in school-aged children living in the Torres Strait region remains high but, as in mainstream Australian children, the prevalence is stable.

Cited by 4 publications

References 18 publications

Respirology year‐in‐review 2008: Clinical science

Respirology year‐in‐review 2008: Clinical science

Diet, Physical Activity, and Obesity in School-Aged Indigenous Youths in Northern Australia

Prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in Indigenous Australian youths

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About