Research Underway

  • Evaluation of osteoporosis management: treatment effectiveness, policy utilisation and impacts on fracture incidence

    Use of complementary medicines such as glucosamine, fish oil and omega 3 is becoming increasingly common by people who suffer from chronic conditions, such as arthritis. The use of these products can have a significant financial impact on patients, especially considering that the evidence for some of these products as treatments for arthritis is insufficient. This project will investigate factors that are associated with use of complementary medicines among people with arthritis, including socioeconomic status, physical activity, physical functioning and use of other medications.

  • Exploring associations between health, morbidity and psychological wellbeing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants of the 45 and Up Study

    Large disparities in health outcomes exist between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Aboriginal Australians. This project is investigating the self-reported health, lifestyle behaviours and general wellbeing of participants in the 45 and Up Study who identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander on the baseline survey.

  • High Risk Prescribing in Older People

    Older people are the most likely demographic to be prescribed medications yet they are the most likely to be harmed by their medications. This study aims to provide an important evidence base for the quality use of medications in Australia.

  • Evaluation of data mining methods for exploring factors associated with prostate cancer

    Due to the chronic nature of prostate cancer it is difficult to understand the journey of patients who are at an advanced stage.This project aims to find an information solution that can integrate multiple information elements and relate these to prostate cancer aetiology, risk and progression.

  • Lifestyle influences on autoimmune and inflammatory diseases

    Influence of dietary and physical activity factors has been extensively studied in many chronic diseases. This project aims to determine the association between lifestyle factors such as dietary practices and physical activity with autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in a large population of Australian adults.

  • Factors associated with physical activity behaviour, prolonged sitting time and weight status among chronic disease populations in the 45 and Up study Australia.

    There is limited knowledge about the factors that influence physical activity behaviour, prolonged sitting, and weight status in individuals with chronic disease. The purpose of this study is to examine the correlates of physical activity, prolonged sitting time and weight status in individuals in the 45 and Up Study cohort with chronic disease compared to those without chronic disease .

  • Identifying predisposing factors for, and the consequences of, common and emerging infectious diseases in a large prospective cohort study of adults

  • The Life Histories and Health (LHH) Project

    The LHH Project is one of the research projects currently underway for participants in the 45 and Up Study. It aims to investigate how family, work, housing and health experiences earlier in life can have continuing influences on health, productivity and well-being for people in late middle-age.

  • Health service utilisation and financial costs associated with long-term adult-cancer survivorship

    The aim of this project is to evaluate the impact a cancer diagnosis has on long-term health service utilisation, the financial burden to the health system and the personal costs for seeking such services. Specifically, investigating changes in these outcomes over time in a cancer survivor cohort and also compare differences between cancer survivors and non-cancer participants matched on selected demographic criteria.

  • Factors associated with adequate physical activity among people with type 2 diabetes

    The project aims to explore the potential barriers to physical activity for people with diabetes, to describe levels of physical activity among people aged 45 years and over with type 2 diabetes and to investigate factors associated with adequate physical activity levels among people aged 45 years and over with diabetes

  • Validation of Aboriginal identification algorithms in the APDC and ABS Mortality Data using the 45 and Up Study.

    The project aims to investigate the factors (hospital, person or admission) that predict ‘correct’ Aboriginal identification in hospital inpatient and mortality data, with self-identified Aboriginal status in the 45 and Up Study, and to investigate how estimated Aboriginal rates and rate ratios for hospital separations, hospital outcomes and mortality vary according to the algorithms developed.

  • The health needs and service use of older men

    This project aims to investigate the health status of men over the age of 70 years, compare older men living alone with those who live with others in relation to health and social functioning, identify specific health risk and geographical factors for older men living alone and determine the need to investigate the health needs of older men in a longitudinal study.

  • Risk management and funding structures: an econometric panel data analysis of health insurance in Australia

    This project is led by Associate Professor Elizabeth Savage an Associate Professor of Health Economics from the University of Technology Sydney.This research analyses how subsidies to Australian health insurance, both public and private, vary by income, risk of loss, age and region. It will provide the necessary information to guide future health funding by analysing the equity and efficiency of existing subsidies and alternative subsidies related to individuals’ risk of high health costs.

  • Novel and established risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic disease: 45 and Up Study data linkage project

    This project considers a range of novel and established risk factors for cardiovascular disease outcomes, including demographic, lifestyle and health-related factors. The initial focus will be on factors relating to physical activity and inactivity, obesity, overweight, nutrition and diabetes, erectile dysfunction and sleep.

  • Risk factors of cardiovascular disease: gender, age, pregnancy, breastfeeding and exogneous hormone use

    The study is investigating the risk factors of cardiovascular disease with a focus on age, gender, exogenous hormone use, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

  • How do health and lifestyle factors relate to self-rated memory?

    This study will investigate the parameters which might be causally linked or predictive to the risk of dementia, this could lead to identifying and targeting prevention and early intervention strategies.

  • Investigating best practice primary care for older Australians with diabetes using data linkage

    This project will investigate the relationships between processes of primary care and health outcomes among older Australians with diabetes.

  • Obesity, overweight and hospitalisation: Identifying targets for interventions to prevent adverse health outcomes

    The overall aim of the project is to provide reliable evidence on how obesity and overweight impact on the risk and costs of hospitalisation in Australia and how this impact varies with ageing, socioeconomic disadvantage, co-morbidity, physical activity and a range of other factors.

  • The SEEF Project: Understanding the impact of social, economic and geographic disadvantage on the health of Australians in mid to later life: What are the opportunities for prevention?

    This project is examining the ways in which social, economic and environmental factors influence the health of Australians in mid to later life.

  • Skin Health Study

    This sub-study aims to determine the possible contributions of sun exposure and major lifestyle factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption to the risk of keratinocyte cancers.

  • The CREDO Research Project: A randomised controlled trial of a web-based intervention to improve depression, cognitive function and adherence in people with comorbid cardiovascular disease

    This project aims to determine the effects of an evidence based internet intervention program for depression on depressive symptoms in patients being treated for cardiovascular disease.

  • Retirement transition: a longitudinal P-E fit approach within a “life expectancy” time framework

    This project is using validated psychological measures to explore retirement and examine which adjustment path a person is likely to follow.

  • Chronic disease management plans: Who receives them and do they make a difference to use of health care services and health outcomes?

    This project will study participants with heart disease, diabetes or asthma to determine if health outcomes or health services are impacted by chronic disease management plans.

  • Data Analysis

    This study aims to use results from the 45 and Up Study to assist the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) to meet the needs of the growing number of older Australians. Questionnaire data will be very useful to help them to understand our current and potential clients.

  • Risk characteristics, hospital admissions, and outcomes of patients with chronic diseases in NSW, 2005-2009

    This study aims to investigate factors associated with hospital admissions (planned/ unplanned) and re-admissions of older patients diagnosed with the five chronic diseases in NSW; and the influence of health care utilisation on disease outcomes, taking into account the patients’ risk characteristics.

  • Referral pathways in colorectal cancer: general practitioners' patterns of referral and factors that influence referral

    The project aims to increase our understanding of the pattern and factors influencing the referral of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients to cancer care specialists after diagnosis in general practices. The results of this project will be used to inform and guide cancer services in Australia about the most effective way to ensure that patients are referred promptly and appropriately to multi-disciplinary specialist teams. CRC is used as a model for cancer treatment referral because of the variations in practice and outcomes.

  • Cross Sectional Descriptive Analyses of the Baseline 45 and Up data set to inform the cardiovascular research network (CVRN)

    The aims of this study are to analyse of cardiovascular disease and diabetes by socio demogrpahic factors in the baseline 45 and Up dataset; to examine the sub types of cardiovascular disease, diabetes or renal disease that are available in the 45 and Up data set, and to examine the risk for people who have already with reported heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, stroke, and renal disease. The risk factor profile sought will be those risk factors that can be identified through the baseline dataset, including profiling by physical activity level, obesity, smoking status and some nutritional patterning.

  • Prescription opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain.

    This study aims to examine the relationship between use of prescribed opioid medication and a wide range of demographic, lifestyle, health, social and other factors in 45 and Up participants; and to investigate the useage pattern of long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain.

  • High health resource utilisation

    This project will use data from the 45 and Up Study linked to NSW hospitalisation and death data to describe the characteristics of 45 and Up Study participants who are high users of hospital services, including demographic, lifestyle, health, social and other factors.

  • The Ageing Heart and Brain Study

    This study will focus primarily on Parksinson's Disease, heart disease and Stroke, seeking to identify risk factors for the development of these conditions, the management of known risk factors and the consequences of developing these conditions in terms of quality of life and daily living activities. Phase I will involve the analysis of baseline questionnaire data derived from the 45 and Up study.

  • Fruit and vegetable intakes among men and women in NSW: who is going for 2 and 5?

    We propose to examine the level of intake of fruit and vegetables among men and women aged 45 years and over in NSW, to estimate the proportions who meet the recommended intake, and to describe those factors associated with adequate fruit and vegetable consumption.

  • Validation of recording of comorbidity in the Admitted Patient Data Collection (APDC)

    This project is using self-reported information from the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire to explore the sensitivity and specificity of recording of comorbidities in APDC data

  • Health Behaviour Clusters

    This project plans to segment the 45 and Up Study baseline data with a view to identifying groups that engage in a similar array of health-related behaviours.

  • Joint replacement study

    This project is investigating the characteristics of 45 and Up Study members who have had hip or knee replacements.

  • Diabetes related risk factors among Vietnam-born residents in NSW

    This project aims to investigate the health status, health related risk factors and acculturation into Australia of Vietnam-born residents, especially those who have type 2 diabetes.

  • Physical activity and health: Studies of older adults and middle-aged men

    This project led by Professor Gregory Kolt, Head of School, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, University of Western Sydney aims to examine the relationship between the amount and intensity of physical activity undertaken by those over 65 years of age, and their perceived limitations in functional activity

  • Sleep duration, obesity and health in middle aged and older Australian adults

    Sleep duration has recently been identified as an important predictor of psychological and physical health in adults. Recent studies indicate that short sleep durations are associated with obesity in children and younger adults, however it is not clear whether these relationships are also evident in middle aged and older adults.

  • An evaluation of the contribution of cardiovascular risk factors to psychological distress and disability in the 45 and Up study

    This project will utilise baseline questionnaire data to explore the relationships between cardiovascular disease and depression in those of working age (<65 years)

  • Prospective investigation of obesity, ageing and hospitalisation: impact, mediating factors and costs

    This project is examining the impact, mediating factors and costs of obesity, ageing and hospitalisation

  • Testing and treatment for prostate cancer in Australia: Epidemiology and modelling

    This study will use data from Medicare Australia and data from completed surveys to describe PSA testing, prostate cancer diagnostic pathways and prostate cancer treatment and also use the 45 and Up Study linked with Medical Benefits claims data, cancer registrations and death registrations to calculate prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates for different PSA testing history patterns. They will then incorporate Australian data into the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) prostate cancer model and calibrate the model to evidence from the randomised controlled trials on prostate cancer mortality and PSA testing.

  • Smoking and health services: new measures of risk and burden

    This study aims to link data from 45 and Up Study participants to data on hospitalisations, ED presentations, use of MBS and PBS services and deaths and to analyse these linked data to establish the relationship between smoking and use of specific health services in 45 and Up Study participants. These results will be used to identify opportunities for targeting preventive and policy interventions, improving estimation of the of the costs and benefits of smoking-related prevention and cessation programs, and strengthening ongoing monitoring and reporting of smoking-related health service use.

  • Carers and labour force participation

    The study will aim to demonstrate that people caring for family members are likely to have a lower probability of being in labour force and caring for family members likely to impact on their income. The study will analyse the association between caring and being out of the labour force among persons aged 45 – 64 years, analyse how this association varies by carers' own health status and estimate the impact of staying out of the labour force to provide care on carers' income

  • Factors related to health care use by older people who have fallen

    Data from the 45 and Up cohort study will be analysed to identify intrinsic characteristics of self-reported fallers and non-fallers. Associations between intrinsic fall-related risk factors for different age ranges who have reported falling and individuals who have not reported falling will be identified. Also identified will be any distinguishing intrinsic characteristics of repeat fallers (ie. more than one fall reported) versus single fallers (ie. one reported fall) and non-fallers.

  • Measuring Socioeconomic Status (SES) - an empirical study

    In literature and other longitudinal studies, a social economical position (SEP) score using principle component (PC) method based on three measures (ie: education, prestige of occupation and family income) is often derived to approximate socioeconomic status (SES). This study aims to test whether further suggested indicators should be routinely included as part of measure of SES, in addition to the routinely used three indicators;

  • GIS mapping the 45Up cohort: Physical activity and its relationship to walkability

    The aim of this project is to develop and map “walkability” in NSW and examine it in relation to physical activity behavior, sedentary and sitting time, self-reported obesity (BMI estimates) and on other related health outcomes from the 45and Up Study cohort.

  • Mapping overweight and obesity and psychological distress among the older population in NSW

    This study aims to determine the geographic distribution of overweight and obese, physical activity and psychological distress from the 45 and Up Study cohort and establish if there are relative contributions to overweight, obesity, physical activity and psychological distress of individual-level factors and area-level characteristics.

  • The Influence of Season on Participant Responses to 45 and Up Study Survey Questions About Health and Wellbeing

    This project will help to assess whether seasonality is an important predictor of survey responses to questions on health and wellbeing, and which variables, if any, are most strongly affected by seasonality.

  • Social Capital and Social Support Analysis of the 45 and Up Study Data for the SEEF project

    This project is conducting a follow up survey of 100,000 participants to identify if social connections/ social participation vary across age groups and gender; if social connections/ social participation independently associated with health; are different types of social connections/ social participation independently associated with health status; does the effect of social connections/ social participation on health mediate by health-related behaviour and if there differential associations of social connections and social support with mental health status of adults.

  • The profile and prevalence of use of glucosamine and fish oil amongst older Australians

    This project is led by Associate Professor Jon Adams - University of Queensland Baseline data from the 45 and Up Study will be used to determine a profile of users of glucosamine and fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids, the prevalence of use of its use, based on demographic, health status, and health behaviour variables.

  • Risk factors of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in 45 and Up Study

    This project is led by Professor Emily Banks from the Australian National University. This project will involved analysis of 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire data will be used to examine the relationships between demographic, lifestyle and health factors and outcome measure for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), such as the International Prostate Symptom Score, or a diagnosis of benign prostate hyperplasia.

  • Identifying predisposing factors for, and the consequences of, common and emerging infectious diseases in a large prospective cohort study of adults     

    This project will link all 45 and Up Study data to the Notifiable Diseases Database, Admitted Patient Data Collection, Register of Births Deaths and Marriages and ABS, Medicare, PBS and Cancer Registrations to determine risk factors for the development of important infectious diseases and to determine what impact specific infections have on long term health in adults

  • Population based risk factors and use of health services for fracture

    This study aims to investigate potential factors that may influence fracture risk including the relationship between fracture risk and lifestyle, patterns of fracture occurrence and use of health, sun exposure and possible confounding factors with fracture including physical activity, frailty, cormorbidities and diet and pharmaceutical agents and fracture.

  • The correlates of poor memory, mental health and wellbeing in ageing: are they different in the old-old (aged > 80 years)?

    This project is investigating the risk and protective factors associated with earlier stages of ageing and what changes across the older age bands that signifies a reduction in healthy ageing

  • Population-based study of factors associated with type 2 diabetes

    This project will, simultaneously and on a large scale, explore demographic, lifestyle and behavioural factors associated with type 2 diabetes.

  • Understanding risk factors for cancer in the 45 and Up Study cohort

    This project is undertaking cross-sectional analyses of variables pertinent to risk factors for cancer that are being collected in the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire.

  • The healthy ageing profile and drivers of health service use for people of diverse cultural backgrounds in NSW (Phase 1)

    Phase 1 of a larger project, this research will utilise baseline questionnaire data to identify differentials in the risk factors and morbidity profiles of people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds aged 50 to 65 years as compared with their Australian born, non-indigenous counterparts.

  • Relationship between demographic and lifestyle factors and asthma and hay fever in an older Australian population

    This project will assess the impact of a range of lifestyle and demographic factors that may be associated with asthma and hay fever.

  • Validation of self-report of surgery in the 45 and Up Study

    This project will investigate the agreement between self-report of surgical procedures and the recording of these procedures in routine administrative hospital morbidity data by linking the 45 and Up Study baseline questionnaire to the NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection.

  • Sun exposure and its correlates in the NSW 45 and up cohort study

    This project is examining the correlates and potential confounders of the relationship between sun exposure, skin cancer and other cancers in the NSW population

  • Exploring the relationships between indicators of mental health problems and their correlates in the 45 and Up Study

    This project will utilise baseline questionnaire data to conduct a large-scale examination of psychological distress, self reported anxiety and depression and psychotropic medication use and their correlates in mid to late life.

  • Multifactorial Predictors of Positive Ageing: A Biopsychosocial Model of Longevity

    This study aims to empirically examine the concept of “positive ageing” in older Australians.

  • Selective estrogen receptor modules (SERMS) for early breast cancer: utilisation and outcomes in Australian practice

    This project will investigate the use and outcomes of selective estrogen receptor modules in post-surgical breast cancer treatment for women with receptor-positive tumours.

  • Acculturation and ageing: follow-up study of Vietnam-born and Lebanon-born older Australians

    This project is investigating the health and risk factors of Vietnam-born and Lebanon-born Australians and their use of health services and how these change with age, acculturation and time.

  • Impact and burden of chronic musculoskeletal conditions in Australia

    This project is describing the burden of musculoskeletal conditions with a view to quantify the impact of chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Specifically, the project will evaluate the associations between Osteoarthritis and serious co-morbidities, and the impact of these on work status, physical functioning and lifestyle. Mitigating factors will also be identified.

  • Prescription medication and traffic crashes among older drivers

    This study aims to estimate the impact of prescription medications on the crash outcomes of older drivers.

  • Utilisation of cancer treatment services in people aged 45 years and over in NSW: A population-based study

    This project aims to determine the cancer treatment utilisation in the 45 years and Up age group in NSW and to identify the factors influencing the utilisation of treatment in this group.

  • Older Peoples Air Pollution Study

    This project is investigating the associations between exposure to urban ambient air pollutants and: health status and quality of life; and respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular disease

  • Economic impacts of disease on older workers: costs to government and individuals and opportunities for intervention

    Determining the economic impacts of disease on older workers aged 45-65