TY - JOUR
T1 - Bronchiectasis among Indigenous adults in the Top End of the Northern Territory, 2011–2020
T2 - a retrospective cohort study
AU - Gibbs, Claire
AU - Howarth, Timothy
AU - Ticoalu, Adriana
AU - Chen, Winnie
AU - Ford, Payi L.
AU - Abeyaratne, Asanga
AU - Jayaram, Lata
AU - McCallum, Gabrielle
AU - Heraganahally, Subash S.
PY - 2024/3
Y1 - 2024/3
N2 - Objectives: To assess the prevalence of bronchiectasis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) adults in the Top End of the Northern Territory, and mortality among Indigenous adults with bronchiectasis. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting, participants: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (18 years or older) living in the Top End Health Service region of the NT in whom bronchiectasis was confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT) during 1 January 2011 – 31 December 2020. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of bronchiectasis, and all-cause mortality among Indigenous adults with CT-confirmed bronchiectasis — overall, by sex, and by health district — based on 2011 population numbers (census data). Results: A total of 23 722 Indigenous adults lived in the Top End Health Service region in 2011; during 2011–2020, 459 people received chest CT-confirmed diagnoses of bronchiectasis. Their median age was 47.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 39.9–56.8 years), 254 were women (55.3%), and 425 lived in areas classified as remote (93.0%). The estimated prevalence of bronchiectasis was 19.4 per 1000 residents (20.6 per 1000 women; 18.0 per 1000 men). The age-adjusted prevalence of bronchiectasis was 5.0 (95% CI, 1.4–8.5) cases per 1000 people in the Darwin Urban health area, and 18–36 cases per 1000 people in the three non-urban health areas. By 30 April 2023, 195 people with bronchiectasis had died (42.5%), at a median age of 60.3 years (IQR, 50.3–68.9 years). Conclusion: The prevalence of bronchiectasis burden among Indigenous adults in the Top End of the NT is high, but differed by health district, as is all-cause mortality among adults with bronchiectasis. The socio-demographic and other factors that contribute to the high prevalence of bronchiectasis among Indigenous Australians should be investigated so that interventions for reducing its burden can be developed.
AB - Objectives: To assess the prevalence of bronchiectasis among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) adults in the Top End of the Northern Territory, and mortality among Indigenous adults with bronchiectasis. Study design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting, participants: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (18 years or older) living in the Top End Health Service region of the NT in whom bronchiectasis was confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT) during 1 January 2011 – 31 December 2020. Main outcome measures: Prevalence of bronchiectasis, and all-cause mortality among Indigenous adults with CT-confirmed bronchiectasis — overall, by sex, and by health district — based on 2011 population numbers (census data). Results: A total of 23 722 Indigenous adults lived in the Top End Health Service region in 2011; during 2011–2020, 459 people received chest CT-confirmed diagnoses of bronchiectasis. Their median age was 47.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 39.9–56.8 years), 254 were women (55.3%), and 425 lived in areas classified as remote (93.0%). The estimated prevalence of bronchiectasis was 19.4 per 1000 residents (20.6 per 1000 women; 18.0 per 1000 men). The age-adjusted prevalence of bronchiectasis was 5.0 (95% CI, 1.4–8.5) cases per 1000 people in the Darwin Urban health area, and 18–36 cases per 1000 people in the three non-urban health areas. By 30 April 2023, 195 people with bronchiectasis had died (42.5%), at a median age of 60.3 years (IQR, 50.3–68.9 years). Conclusion: The prevalence of bronchiectasis burden among Indigenous adults in the Top End of the NT is high, but differed by health district, as is all-cause mortality among adults with bronchiectasis. The socio-demographic and other factors that contribute to the high prevalence of bronchiectasis among Indigenous Australians should be investigated so that interventions for reducing its burden can be developed.
KW - Chronic disease
KW - Community care
KW - Computed tomography
KW - Education, public health
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Healthcare disparities
KW - Indigenous health
KW - Morbidity
KW - Population characteristics
KW - Population health
KW - Primary health care
KW - Rural health services
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85182475311&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5694/mja2.52204
DO - 10.5694/mja2.52204
M3 - Article
C2 - 38225723
AN - SCOPUS:85182475311
SN - 0025-729X
VL - 220
SP - 188
EP - 195
JO - Medical Journal of Australia
JF - Medical Journal of Australia
IS - 4
ER -
