2 in 5 Indigenous adults may have impaired lung function

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2023-12-15 03:00

Australia; VIC; QLD; WA; NT

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Almost 40% of adult Indigenous Australians have abnormal lung function, according to Australian research. The team used data from 686 Indigenous Australians involved in a study from birth, including information on childhood factors that could impact their lung function, and the results of tests aimed at picking up lung problems done when the participants were young adults. The researchers say having a younger mum, having a respiratory infection in preschool, being overweight as a child and living in a remote community were associated with lower lung function by young adulthood. The researchers say while this study is in a small cohort, it gives a helpful indication of factors that might be causing lung problems in young Indigenous people and highlights areas that could be tackled to reduce the risks.