Psychological distress in three Australian communities living with environmental per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances contamination.

Background: Environmental chemical contamination is a recognised risk factor for psychological distress, but has been seldom studied in the context of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. We examined psychological distress in a cross-sectional study of three Australian communities exposed to PFAS from the historical use of aqueous film-forming foam in firefighting activities, and three comparison communities without environmental contamination.

Methods: Participation was voluntary following recruitment from a PFAS blood-testing program (exposed) or random selection (comparison).

Interventional radiology in obstetric patients: A population-based record linkage study of use and outcomes.

Introduction: Interventional radiology (IR) is a technique for controlling hemorrhage and preserving fertility for women with serious obstetric conditions such as placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) or postpartum hemorrhage. This study examined maternal, pregnancy and hospital characteristics and outcomes for women receiving IR in pregnancy and postpartum.

Material And Methods: A population-based record linkage study was conducted, including all women who gave birth in hospital in New South Wales or the major tertiary hospital in the neighboring Australian Capital Territory, Australia, between 2003 and 2019.

Interaction effects of multimorbidity and frailty on adverse health outcomes in elderly hospitalised patients.

We quantified the interaction of multimorbidity and frailty and their impact on adverse health outcomes in the hospital setting. Using aretrospective cohort study of persons aged ≥ 75 years, admitted to hospital during 2010-2012 in New South Wales, Australia, and linked with mortality data, we constructed multimorbidity, frailty risk and outcomes: prolonged length of stay (LOS), 30-day mortality and 30-day unplanned readmissions. Relative risks (RR) of outcomes were obtained using Poisson models with random intercept for hospital.

Differences in the pre-hospital management of women and men with stroke by emergency medical services in New South Wales.

Objectives: To examine whether pre-hospital emergency medical service care differs for women and men subsequently admitted to hospital with stroke.

Design, Setting, Participants: Population-based cohort study; analysis of linked Admitted Patient Data Collection and NSW Ambulance data for people admitted to New South Wales hospitals with a principal diagnosis of stroke at separation, 1 July 2005 - 31 December 2018.

Main Outcome Measures: Emergency medical service assessments, protocols, and management for patients subsequently diagnosed with stroke, by sex.

Maternal factors and risk of spontaneous preterm birth due to high ambient temperatures in New South Wales, Australia.

Background: Exposure to high ambient temperatures has been shown to increase the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Determining which maternal factors increase or decrease this risk will inform climate adaptation strategies.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the risk of spontaneous preterm birth associated with exposure to ambient temperature and differences in this relationship between mothers with different health and demographic characteristics.

Sex differences in emergency medical services management of patients with myocardial infarction: analysis of routinely collected data for over 110,000 patients.

Emergency medical services (EMS) activation is an integral component in managing individuals with myocardial infarction (MI). EMS play a crucial role in early MI symptom recognition, prompt transport to percutaneous coronary intervention centres and timely administration of management. The objective of this study was to examine sex differences in prehospital EMS care of patients hospitalized with Ml using data from a retrospective population-based cohort study of linked health administrative data for people with a hospital diagnosis of MI in Australia (2001-18).

Are newly introduced criteria for the diagnosis of gestational diabetes mellitus associated with improved pregnancy outcomes and/or increased interventions in New South Wales, Australia? A population-based data linkage study.

Introduction: The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing in Australia, influenced by changed diagnostic criteria. We aimed to identify whether the diagnostic change was associated with improved outcomes and/or increased obstetric interventions using state-wide data in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

Research Design And Methods: Perinatal and hospital data were linked for singleton births, 33-41 weeks' gestation, 2006-2015, NSW.

Multiple Peri-Operative Complications are Associated with Reduced Long Term Amputation Free Survival Following Revascularisation for Lower Limb Peripheral Artery Disease: A Population Based Linked Data Study.

Objective: To determine, in a population based linked data study, the relationship between peri-operative multiple complications and longer term outcomes, specifically the combined outcome of two year amputation or death, after lower limb revascularisation for peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Methods: State wide health administrative data and death records were probabilistically linked for all patients who had lower limb artery surgery between 2010 and 2012 in New South Wales, Australia. Multivariable Cox regression modelled the impact of medical and surgical complications on the combined outcome of amputation or death two years after discharge.

Gestational age, morbidity and mortality among twin births in New South Wales, Australia 2003-2014: A cohort study.

Background: Evidence suggests that the trend toward early planned births observed among singletons may be evident among twin pregnancies.

Aims: To describe trends in gestational age at birth, pregnancy characteristics, neonatal morbidity and mortality among twin pregnancies.

Materials And Methods: Population-based data linkage study of twin births of ≥30 weeks of gestation without a major congenital anomaly born in 2003-2014 in New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

The association between haemoglobin levels in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.

Background: Low haemoglobin has been linked to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Our study aimed to assess the association of haemoglobin (Hb) in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, and restoration of low Hb levels, with pregnancy outcomes in Australia.

Methods: Clinical data for singleton pregnancies from two tertiary public hospitals in New South Wales were extracted for 2011-2015.

Haemoglobin trajectories during pregnancy and associated outcomes using pooled maternity and hospitalization data from two tertiary hospitals.

Background And Objectives: This study aimed to describe how haemoglobin trajectories in pregnant Australian women were associated with subsequent postpartum haemorrhage, blood transfusion and other outcomes.

Materials And Methods: The study was conducted in two tertiary public hospitals in Australia, using routinely collected maternity and hospital data on singleton pregnancies (2011-2015). Latent class growth modelling defined trajectories among those with at least one haemoglobin in each of three antenatal time periods (0-15, 16-30 and 31+ weeks; n = 7104).

Mortality and hospital readmissions in the first year of life after intra-uterine and neonatal blood product transfusions: A population data linkage study.

Aim: Blood product transfusions are a potentially life-saving therapy for fetal and neonatal anaemia, but there is limited population-based research on outcomes. We aimed to describe mortality, readmission and average hospital stay in the first year of life for infants with or without intra-uterine or neonatal blood product transfusions.

Methods: Linked birth, hospital and deaths data from New South Wales, Australia (January 2002-June 2014) were used to identify singleton infants (≥23 weeks' gestation, surviving to 29 days; n = 1 089 750) with intra-uterine or neonatal transfusion or no transfusion.

Outcomes of subsequent pregnancy following obstetric transfusion in a first birth.

Background: Increasing rates of postpartum haemorrhage and obstetric transfusion mean that more women are entering subsequent pregnancies with a history of blood transfusion. This study investigates subsequent pregnancy outcomes of women with a prior obstetric red cell transfusion, compared to women without a transfusion.

Methods: All women with a first pregnancy resulting in a liveborn singleton infant of at least 20 weeks gestation delivering in hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, between 2003 and 2012 were included in the study, with followup for second births until June 2015.

Multimorbidity among Aboriginal people in New South Wales contributes significantly to their higher mortality.

Objectives: To compare the prevalence of multimorbidity and its impact on mortality among Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians who had been hospitalised in New South Wales in the previous 10 years.

Design, Setting And Participants: Cohort study analysis of linked NSW hospital (Admitted Patient Data Collection) and mortality data for 5 437 018 New South Wales residents with an admission to a NSW hospital between 1 March 2003 and 1 March 2013, and alive at 1 March 2013.

Main Outcome Measures: Admissions for 30 morbidities during the 10-year study period were identified.

The impact of blood-borne viruses on cause-specific mortality among opioid dependent people: An Australian population-based cohort study.

Background: Blood-borne viruses (BBV) are prevalent among people with opioid dependence but their association with cause-specific mortality has not been examined at the population-level.

Methods: We formed a population-based cohort of 29,571 opioid substitution therapy (OST) registrants in New South Wales, Australia, 1993-2007. We ascertained notifications of infection and death by record linkage between the Pharmaceutical Drugs of Addiction System (OST data), registers of hepatitis C (HCV), hepatitis B (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnoses, and the National Death Index.

Examining the quality of name code record linkage: what is the impact on death and cancer risk estimates? A validation study.

Objective: To examine the validity and impact of record linkage using name code compared to full name records.

Methods: A registry of 45,419 opioid substitution clients (1985-2007) was linked with national population-based death and cancer registries using registrant's name, date of birth, sex, state, postcode and date of death. Records were linked using full name and then using the first two letters of the given and surname (2×2 name code).

Variation in the recording of common health conditions in routine hospital data: study using linked survey and administrative data in New South Wales, Australia.

Objectives: To investigate the nature and potential implications of under-reporting of morbidity information in administrative hospital data.

Setting And Participants: Retrospective analysis of linked self-report and administrative hospital data for 32,832 participants in the large-scale cohort study (45 and Up Study), who joined the study from 2006 to 2009 and who were admitted to 313 hospitals in New South Wales, Australia, for at least an overnight stay, up to a year prior to study entry.

Outcome Measures: Agreement between self-report and recording of six morbidities in administrative hospital data, and between-hospital variation and predictors of positive agreement between the two data sources.

The contribution of geography to disparities in preventable hospitalisations between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Objectives: To quantify the independent roles of geography and Indigenous status in explaining disparities in Potentially Preventable Hospital (PPH) admissions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Design, Setting And Participants: Analysis of linked hospital admission data for New South Wales (NSW), Australia, for the period July 1 2003 to June 30 2008.

Main Outcome Measures: Age-standardised admission rates, and rate ratios adjusted for age, sex and Statistical Local Area (SLA) of residence using multilevel models.

Disparities in cataract surgery between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in New South Wales, Australia.

Background: To investigate variation in rates of cataract surgery in New South Wales, Australia by area of residence for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal adults.

Design: Observational data linkage study of hospital admissions.

Participants: Two hundred eighty-nine thousand six hundred forty-six New South Wales residents aged 30 years and over admitted to New South Wales hospitals for 444,551 cataract surgery procedures between 2001 and 2008.

Statistical methods to enhance reporting of Aboriginal Australians in routine hospital records using data linkage affect estimates of health disparities.

Objective: To investigate under-recording of Aboriginal people in hospital data from New South Wales (NSW), Australia, define algorithms for enhanced reporting, and examine the impact of these algorithms on estimated disparities in cardiovascular and injury outcomes.

Methods: NSW Admitted Patient Data were linked with NSW mortality data (2001-2007). Associations with recording of Aboriginal status were investigated using multilevel logistic regression.

Disentangling the impacts of geography and Aboriginality on serious road transport injuries in New South Wales.

Aboriginal people in Australia have higher rates of transport injury than non-Aboriginal people, but a greater proportion of Aboriginal people live in rural or remote areas where risk of these injuries is higher. This paper investigated the contributing effect of geography on the relationship between Aboriginality and road transport injury rates in the state of New South Wales. Linked hospital admission and mortality records for individuals for the years 2001-2007 were grouped into distinct injury events.