JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Respiratory disease is the third most common cause of death in New Zealand, with Pacific peoples living in New Zealand bear the greatest burden of this disease. While some epidemiological outcomes are known, we lack the specifics required to formulate targeted and effective public health interventions.

Objective:

The Pacific Islands Families (PIF) birth cohort study provides a unique source of data to assess lung function and current respiratory health among participants entering early adulthood, and examining associations with early life events during critical periods of growth. This article provides an overview of the design, methods and scope of the “Respiratory Health of Pacific Youth Study” which utilises the overall PIF Study cohort at age 18-19 years.

Methods:

From 2000 to 2019 the PIF study has followed, from birth, the growth and development of 1,398 Pacific children born in Auckland, New Zealand. Participants were nested within the overall PIF Study (at age 18-19 years) from June 2018 and assessments were undertaken until mid-November 2019. The assessments included respiratory and general medical histories, a general physical examination, assessment of lung function (FEV1, FVC), self-completed questionnaires (St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, European Quality of Life 5D-3L, Epworth Sleepiness Scale for Children and Adolescents, Leicester Cough Questionnaire), blood tests (eosinophils, IgE, IgG, IgA, IgM, C-reactive protein), and chest x-rays. Non-inferential analyses will be carried out on dimensionally reduced risk and protective factors, as well as confounders.

Results:

This is the first longitudinal observational study to address the burden of respiratory disease among Pacific youth by determining factors in early-life which impose long-term detriments in lung function, and are associated with the presence of respiratory illness.

Conclusions:

Identifying risk factors and the magnitude of their effects will give focus to adopting preventative measures, establishing whether any avoidable risks can be modified by later resilient behaviours, and provide baseline measurements for the development of respiratory disease in later life. The study results can be translated into practice guidelines and inform health strategies with immediate national and international impact. Clinical Trial: Study retrospectively registered at Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) (ACTRN12619000468123).