Information for researchers
E-News for Researchers
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August 2009
Welcome to the 5th issue of The 45 and Up Study e-News, a bulletin for members of the 45 and Up Study Research Network, researchers, policy makers and others with a professional interest in Australia’s largest cohort study. In this e-News we have included information about the Study’s progress, upcoming events and use of study data for research projects.
Study progress
Recruitment to the 45 and Up Study is complete. Over 250,000 men and women aged 45 and over across NSW have joined the 45 and Up Study, making it the largest study of its kind in the southern hemisphere. This has been made possible by the remarkable level of community support for the Study and the generous support of our partner organisations.
Early research outputs
To date, four scientific papers using data from the 45 and Up Study have been published.
In 2008 the 45 and Up Study Collaborators published a paper in the International Journal of Epidemiology that described our methods and progress to date.
Publications from the year to date are:
Weber M, Banks E, Ward R, Sitas F. Population characteristics related to colorectal cancer testing in New South Wales, Australia: results from the 45 and Up Study cohort. J Med Screen 2008;15:137-142.
Weber M, Banks E, Smith D.P, O’Connell D, Sitas F. Cancer screening among migrants in an Australian cohort: cross-sectional analyses from the 45 and Up Study. BMC Public Health 2009; 9: 144
Banks E, Jorm L, Lujic S, Rogers K. Health, ageing and private health insurance: baseline results from the 45 and Up Study cohort. ANZ Health Policy 2009;6:16.
These articles are available to download on our website.
Additional research underway
There are now 28 projects underway using information from the 45 and Up Study to look at a very wide range of health issues. All of these projects have met our criteria for research quality and ethics and are in the public interest.
Our newest projects are looking at:
- The association between cardiovascular risk factors and psychological distress and depression (Professor Ian Hickie and colleagues)
- The effect of overweight and obesity on hospitalisation (Associate Professor Emily Banks and colleagues)
- The factors that increase the likelihood that older people ‘age in place’, and stay living independently for as long as possible (Professor Julie Byles and colleagues)
- Who are high users of health services and what illnesses they have (Professor Louisa Jorm and colleagues)
- The health of people from non English speaking backgrounds (Dr Magnolia Cardona and colleagues)
- The lifestyle and other factors associated with asthma and hay fever (Dr Hassan Vally and Dr Neil Misso)
More detail on these projects as well as all of the projects that are underway can be found on our website.
Spotlight on bowel cancer screening
Screening for bowel cancer is known to save lives. However, screening rates are low and little is known about why some people have screening for bowel cancer and others do not.
Dr Marianne Weber and colleagues at Cancer Council NSW have used information provided by participants in the 45 and Up Study to look at who does and does not have screening for bowel cancer. “We found that only about a third of people aged 50 and over had used a bowel cancer test in the past 5 years. Screening was even less likely for smokers, those with lower incomes, those with a disability and those who reported not eating fruit and vegetables. Migrants from Asia and Western Europe were also less likely to have screening,” said Dr Weber. These findings suggest that the community as a whole needs more encouragement to take up bowel cancer screening. Certain groups may need extra encouragement and accessibility by people from different ethnic backgrounds and levels of disability is important.
Sub-studies within the 45 and Up Study framework
One of the most interesting aspects of the 45 and Up Study are the projects that are asking for more detailed information from small groups of our participants. These are our sub-studies. We will only ask participants to join these sub-studies from time to time – as we do not want to overburden them with mail. Participation in a sub-study is always completely voluntary. There are five of these sub-studies happening over the rest of this year:
This project will invite 2,000 45 and Up Study participants living near Wagga Wagga or Parramatta to give a 30ml blood sample. This is a randomised pilot study, comparing different models for collecting blood samples from 45 and Up Study participants. In addition to providing a blood sample, participants will also complete a brief questionnaire about their current health and have their height, weight, waist circumference, heart rate and blood pressure measured.
- SEEF (Social, Economic and Environmental Factors of Healthy Ageing)
Over the next few months 100,000 participants in the 45 and Up Study will be invited to complete a questionnaire for the SEEF Project to help better understand the impact of social, environmental and economic factors on health and health services use. Areas to be examined include income, carer status, work and retirement, social networks, geography and housing.
- The Lifestyle, Infection and Skin Cancer Study
Just under 10 000 45 and Up Study participants will be invited to join this project aiming to investigate the roles of sun exposure, infections, hormones and other factors in the development of non-melanoma skin cancer. This will involve completing a questionnaire and providing blood samples and skin swabs.
- Retirement Transition and Health
This project will collect detailed information from 2,000 45 and Up participants related to their retirement plans and then moving to retirement. Participation will involve completing a brief survey every year for 5 years to help gain a better understanding of retirement and the factors that help retirees better adjust.
- Cardiovascular Risk and Psychological Distress
This project will invite 5,000 45 and Up participants who report high psychological distress as well as comorbid cardiovascular disease to participate in a web based intervention over a period of six weeks. The project will examine the effect of an established e-health depression and cardiovascular intervention ('e-couch', plus exercise module) on depression, cognition and cardiovascular outcomes.
All of these sub-studies are examples of the how the 45 and Up Study can serve as a framework for more detailed studies of healh. After a period of exclusive access by the researchers responsible for these sub-studies, the data collected by these projects will be added to the 45 and Up Study resource and available for use in approved projects by other researchers. This means we will be constantly adding to the value and scope of the information available on participants in the 45 and Up Study.
2009 Annual Collaborators’ meeting
The 45 and Up Study Collaborators’ Meeting offers our research partners, supporters and interested parties the opportunity to receive a comprehensive update on the progress of the Study. It also provides an opportunity to engage with other researchers, policy makers and evaluators to discuss potential for maximising the value of the Study resource.
The Collaborators’ Meeting is held annually. The 6th annual Collaborator’s Meeting was held on Friday 25 September 2009 and the next meeting will be held late 2010.
To view the presentations from the 2009 Collaborators’ Meeting click here.
Partnerships in healthy ageing
The 45 and Up Study is managed by the Sax Institute in partnership with our major partner Cancer Council NSW. Further partners in the Study are: the National Heart Foundation of Australia (NSW Division); beyondblue: the national depression initiative; NSW Health; the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care; and most recently, UnitingCare Ageing.
The Study is also supported by Macquarie Bank Foundation, Freehills, the Baxter Charitable Foundation and Alma Hazel Eddy Trust (both managed by Perpetual Ltd), and TRUST. The MBF Foundation has also funded a three-year ‘Policy in Action Roundtable’ Project to encourage the early use of the 45 and Up Study for policy-relevant research.
Questions and information
If you would like more information about the 45 and Up Study, please contact the Study team by:
Phone 1300 45 11 45 Fax 02 9514 5951
Email
45andUp@saxinstitute.org.au
Post
The 45 and Up Study
Sax Institute
PO Box 123
Broadway NSW 2007
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