Aggregation of melanoma tumour site within Western Australian families.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is emerging that melanoma has distinct aetiologic pathways and subtypes, characterized by factors like anatomic site of the tumour. To explore genetic influences on anatomic subtypes, we examined the extent to which melanomas in first-degree relatives shared the same body site of occurrence. METHODS: Population-level linked data was used to identify the study population of over 1.5 million individuals born in Western Australia between 1945 and 2014, and their first-degree relatives. There were 1009 pairs of invasive tumours from 677 family pairs, each categorised by anatomic site. Greater than expected representation of site-concordant pairs would suggest the presence of genetic factors that predispose individuals to site-specific melanoma. RESULTS: Comparing observed versus expected totals, we observed a modest increase in site concordance for invasive head/neck and truncal tumours (P=0.02). A corresponding analysis including in situ tumours showed a similar concordance (P=0.05). No further evidence of concordance was observed when stratified by sex. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, modest evidence of aggregation was observed but with inconsistent patterns between sites. Results suggest that further investigation into the familial aggregation of melanoma by tumour site is warranted, with the inclusion of genetic data in order to disentangle the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors.

Topical glyceryl trinitrate to increase radial artery diameter in neonates: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Newborn infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit require arterial cannulation for hemodynamic monitoring and blood sampling. Arterial access is achieved through catheterization of umbilical or peripheral arteries. Peripheral artery cannulation is performed in critically ill newborns, but artery localization and cannulation is often challenging and unsuccessful. Therefore, increasing the internal diameter and preventing vasospasm are important for successful peripheral artery cannulation in neonates. Topical glyceryl trinitrate has the potential to increase cannulation success by relaxing arterial smooth muscles and thus increasing the internal diameter. We aim to conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topycal glyceryl trinitrate in increasing the diameter of the radial artery in neonates. METHODS/DESIGN: This study will be a single-center, observer-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of Perth Children's Hospital, Western Australia. A total of 60 infants born at >34 weeks of gestation who are admitted for elective surgery or medical reasons and for whom a peripheral arterial line is needed for sampling or blood pressure monitoring will be recruited after informed parental consent is obtained. The primary outcome will be the change in radial arterial diameter from baseline to postintervention. Secondary outcomes will be the absolute and percentage change from baseline in the radial arterial diameter in both limbs and safety (hypotension and methemoglobinemia). DISCUSSION: This will be the first randomized controlled trial evaluating the use of topical glyceryl trinitrate to facilitate peripheral artery cannulation in neonates. If our pilot randomized controlled trial confirms the benefits of glyceryl trinitrate patches, it will pave the way for large multicenter randomized controlled trials in this field.

COVID-19 outcomes in haemopoietic stem cell transplant recipients in Western Australia: the value of vaccination and antiviral therapy.

Coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) mortality rates among haemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients are high, ranging between 20% and 40%. We prospectively evaluated the mortality outcomes of COVID-19 in Western Australian HSCT patients. A total of 32/492 (6.5%) HSCT recipients contracted COVID-19 during the study, of whom 30/32 (94%) developed mild or asymptomatic disease. Two allogeneic HSCT patients were hospitalised for severe COVID-19; one patient died. Stringent healthcare, social isolation practices, aggressive vaccination programmes and rapid access to COVID-19 antivirals may have promoted mild COVID-19 illness in Western Australian HSCT patients, resulting in one of the lowest COVID-19 mortality rates in HSCT recipients worldwide.

Epidemiology and assessment of Hepatitis B positive children in Western Australia.

AIM: To describe the characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) presenting to a tertiary paediatric hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Review of implementation of previous follow-up recommendations for the cohort was also undertaken. METHOD: A retrospective data analysis of all individuals aged between 0 and 17 years presenting to the tertiary children's hospital who were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive over 8 years (2013-2020). Demographic features, clinical progress and follow up are described, including proportion transferred to adult services. RESULTS: Seventy-four patients were identified to have CHB; mean age at diagnosis 11 years; standard deviation 4 years; 41 (55%) male. Cultural and ethnolinguistic diversity was high; 74% (n = 55) were from refugee-like backgrounds. Many did not demonstrate English proficiency (23/40; 75%) and 7 (10%) Australian born including 4 patients who were Aboriginal. Most patients (58%) with CHB were in the hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic infection phase with no intervention provided. Seventeen children had undergone liver ultrasonography and one underwent liver biopsy; none received antiviral treatment. Follow up was concerning; 28 (38%) had at least one clinic non-attendance, 24 (32%) lost to follow-up and interpreter utilisation was poorly documented. Thirty-nine (53%) were transferred to adult services with only 56% attending follow-up. CONCLUSION: CHB burden is higher in those from culturally and ethnolinguistically diverse backgrounds. There is a significant loss to follow-up and suboptimal transfer to adult services. Improved recall, education and referral processes are necessary to overcome language, socioeconomic and cultural barriers. Although childhood complications are infrequent, longitudinal monitoring is crucial to prevent long-term complications and adult morbidity.

Long-term incidence, risk factors and complications for venous thromboembolism in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

AIM: To compare frequency, incidence rates (IR), risk factors and outcomes of a first venous thromboembolic event (VTE) between patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and controls. METHODS: Using state-wide longitudinal hospital data from Western Australia (WA), we recorded venous thrombosis (VT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) in patients with SLE (n = 1854, median age 40, 86% female) and matched hospitalised controls (n = 12,107, median age 40 years, females 88.6%) in the period 1985-2015. Results presented are medians, frequency, IR per 1000 person years (PY) and odds, rate, or adjusted hazard ratios (OR/RR/a-HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Patients with SLE had significantly higher odds (12.8 vs 3.3%; OR 4.26, CI 3.60-5.05) and IR for a first VTE (10.09 vs 1.52; RR 6.64; CI 5.56-7.79). Over the three study decades, the IR for PE declined in patients with SLE from 7.74 to 3.75/1000 PY (p < .01) with no changes observed for VT or in controls. VTE recurred more frequently in patients with SLE (24.1% vs 10.2 %) (p < .01). Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) (a-HR 4.24, CI 2.50-7.19), serositis (a-HR 2.70, CI 1.86-3.91), lupus nephritis (a-HR 1.75 CI 1.25-2.33) and thrombocytopenia (a-HR 1.65 (1.10-2.49) were the strongest disease risk factors for VTE only in patients with SLE, while arterial hypertension, smoking and obesity were independent VTE risk factors for both groups. VTE was not associated with an increased risk for arterial events, but PE increased the risk for pulmonary hypertension (PH) in both patients with SLE (a-HR 6.47, CI 3.73-11.23) and controls (a-HR 9.09, CI 3.50-23.63). VTE increased the risk of death in both patients with SLE (a-HR 2.02, CI 1.50-2.70) and controls (a-HR 6.63, CI 5.21-8.42) after 10 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: VTE affected 12.8% of patients with SLE at six times the VTE rate in controls with aPL as the strongest, but not the only risk factor in SLE. The risk of PH was increased in both groups following PE, but VTE did not associate with an increased risk of arterial events.

Early ambulation impacts on quality-of-life outcomes positively after lower limb burn injury: A group trajectory analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the challenges of providing burn care throughout the 2.5MKm2 jurisdiction of Western Australia, early intervention after injury remains a key premise of the multidisciplinary model of care applied by the State Adult Burn Unit (SABU) team. In particular, contemporary guidelines support the facilitation of early ambulation after lower limb burn and skin grafting. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the association between the timing of ambulation after burn and surgery on quality of life (QoL) outcomes. METHODS: Data from 1707 lower limb burn patients aged ≥ 18, admitted to the SABU between February 2011- December 2019, were included. Self-reported QoL longitudinal outcomes were assessed using the Short Form 36 and Burn Specific Health Scale Brief. Three recovery trajectories were defined according to their QoL outcome responses, mapped out to one year. Early ambulation was defined as occurring within 48 h of acute burn or surgery, as per SABU routine practice. RESULTS: Early ambulation was shown to have a positive association to the higher QoL trajectory group (>75% of cohort), though not statistically significant for the Physical Component (PCS) and Mental health Component (MCS) summary scores of the SF36; however, ambulation pathway was associated with adjusted long-term BSHS-B QoL outcomes. The least favorable trajectory of long-term recovery of the physical aspects of QoL was seen in those with higher TBSA and complications and increasing age and comorbidities. In contrast, the mental health components of QoL were robust to all those factors, apart from pre-existing comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Early ambulation after lower limb burn, and surgery, was positively associated with early and long-term QoL outcomes. Recovery trajectory is strongly indicated by where the patient journey begins after early acute care. The optimal physical QoL recovery trajectory was shared by those who were younger with reduced TBSA; complications; and, comorbidities whereas the mental health QoL trajectories were only impacted by comorbidities.

Cancer Risk and Mortality in Hospitalized Patients With Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies in Western Australia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare cancer incidence, type, and survival between patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) in Western Australia (WA) and the general population. METHODS: Administrative health data for hospitalized patients with incident IIM (n = 803, 56.5% female, median age 62.0 yrs), classified by a validated algorithm as polymyositis (PM; 36.2%), dermatomyositis (DM; 27.4%), inclusion body myositis (IBM; 17.1%), overlap myositis (OM; 10.7%), and other IIM (8.6%), were linked to WA cancer and death registries for the period of 1980 to 2014. Cancer incidence rates (CIRs) before and after IIM diagnosis as well as cancer mortality were compared with age-, sex-, and calendar year-matched controls (n = 3225, 54.9% female, median age 64 yrs) by rate ratios (RRs) and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates. RESULTS: The prediagnosis CIR was similar for patients with IIM and controls (6.57 vs 5.95; RR 1.11, 95% CI 0.88-1.39) and for patients evolving to DM (n = 220) or other IIM subtypes (6.59 vs 6.56; RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.38-3.69). During follow-up, CIR was higher for all DM (4.05, 95% CI 3.04-5.29), with increased CIR for lung cancer vs controls (1.05 vs 0.33; RR 3.18, 95% CI 1.71-5.47). Cancer post diagnosis shortened life span by 59 months for patients with IIM (103 vs 162 months, P < 0.01), but reduced survival rates were observed only in patients with DM and IBM. CONCLUSION: Cancer risk was not increased prior to IIM, but CIR for lung cancer was increased following DM diagnosis. As cancer reduced survival only in patients with DM and IBM, these data support a strategy of limited cancer screening in IIM.

Socio-ecological factors that influence youth vaping: perspectives from Western Australian school professionals, parents and young people.

PURPOSE: To understand from the perspectives of school professionals, parents and young people the socio-ecological factors that may facilitate and prevent e-cigarette use among young people in Perth, Western Australia. METHODS: Purposive sampling was used to recruit school professionals, parents and young people for one-on-one (n = 35) or joint (n = 3) interviews (in-person n = 11 or online n = 27). Data were analysed using thematic analysis and classified into four domains based on the socio-ecological model: i) individual, ii) interpersonal, iii) organizational/community and iv) societal/policy. RESULTS: Factors that were found to support vaping among young people included sensation-seeking and risk-taking behaviour; a low-risk perception of vapes; attractive characteristics of vapes; ease of access; perception vaping is a social activity; and lack of knowledge about vaping among parents and school professionals. Vaping prevention messages originating from the familial, educational and community spheres are lacking but wanted by adults and young people. CONCLUSIONS: The pervasiveness of the e-cigarette trade and persistent challenges related to surveillance and enforcement need to be addressed to reduce exposure and access to e-cigarettes. A mixture of "hard" and "soft" public policy tools involving key stakeholders in a range of settings is needed to prevent e-cigarette access and uptake by young people.

Psychiatric disorders in childhood cancer survivors: A retrospective matched cohort study of inpatient hospitalisations and community-based mental health services utilisation in Western Australia.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the impact of long-term mental health outcomes on healthcare services utilisation among childhood cancer survivors in Western Australia using linked hospitalisations and community-based mental healthcare records from 1987 to 2019. METHOD: The study cohort included 2977 childhood cancer survivors diagnosed with cancer at age < 18 years in Western Australia from 1982 to 2014 and a matched non-cancer control group of 24,994 individuals. Adjusted hazard ratios of recurrent events were estimated using the Andersen-Gill model. The cumulative burden of events over time was assessed using the method of mean cumulative count. The annual percentage change in events was estimated using the negative binomial regression model. RESULTS: The results showed higher community-based service contacts (rate/100 person-years: 30.2, 95% confidence interval = [29.7-30.7] vs 22.8, 95% confidence interval = [22.6-22.9]) and hospitalisations (rate/1000 person-years: 14.8, 95% confidence interval = [13.6-16.0] vs 12.7, 95% confidence interval = [12.3-13.1]) in childhood cancer survivors compared to the control group. Childhood cancer survivors had a significantly higher risk of any event (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.5, 95% confidence interval = [1.1-2.0]). The cumulative burden of events increased with time since diagnosis and across age groups. The annual percentage change for hospitalisations and service contacts significantly increased over time (p < 0.05). Substance abuse was the leading cause of hospitalisations, while mood/affective and anxiety disorders were common causes of service contacts. Risk factors associated with increased service events included cancer diagnosis at age < 5 years, leukaemia diagnosis, high socioeconomic deprivation, and an attained age of < 18 years. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated utilisation of healthcare services observed among childhood cancer survivors emphasises the need for periodic assessment of psychiatric disorders, particularly in high-risk survivors, to facilitate early management and optimise healthcare resources.

Assessment of contrast intravasation in patients investigated by fluoroscopic hysterosalpingograms: A two-year retrospective audit in Western Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Intravasation on hysterosalpingogram (HSG) is defined by the flow of injected contrast from the uterine cavity into adjacent myometrial vessels. Evidence suggests intravasation can result in consequences such as pulmonary and cerebral embolisms. However, adverse events are poorly reported across published studies. Reported intravasation ranges from 0.0% to 13%, with higher rates attributed to oil-soluble contrast medium (OSCM) use. Recent reviews of OSCM's fertility-enhancing benefits have prompted rapid clinical uptake by fertility specialists worldwide. This instigates increased concern for intravasation and its associated sequelae. We aim to assess the prevalence of intravasation in fluoroscopic HSGs and its reporting in Western Australia (WA). METHODS: A two-year retrospective analysis of all fluoroscopic HSGs in one public teaching hospital within WA was conducted. All HSGs were retrieved from the public radiology information system and a blinded method was utilised to verify the presence and grading of intravasation in captured HSG images. Grading of intravasation was attributed by anatomical spread: 1 to myometrium, 2 to parametrium and 3 to para-iliac vessels. Results were subsequently compared with reported intravasation to assess for discrepancies. RESULTS: Of 308 successful HSGs, an intravasation rate of 7.1% was identified. Of these cases, 45% were reported and 32% were graded. Majority (73%) of intravasation events were classified as grade 1, with 9.0% and 18% of cases classified as grade 2 and 3, respectively. CONCLUSION: Under-reporting of intravasation emphasises a need for increased vigilance of radiologists. Standardised classification can provide interpretational consistency and should be considered to improve safety in future practice.

Vape stores in Western Australia: growth, proximity to schools and socio-economic gradient of density.

OBJECTIVE: To audit the number and location of dedicated e-cigarette retailers ("vape stores") in Western Australian (WA), measure proximity to schools and model the association between vape store density and socio-economic disadvantage. METHODS: Vape stores were identified via internet search and geocoded. Proximity to schools was measured. Regression modelling was used to investigate the association between vape store density and socio-economic disadvantage. RESULTS: 194 stores were identified, with 88% located within one kilometre of a school. In metropolitan WA, vape store density was nearly seven times higher in the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas than in the least disadvantaged areas (rate ratio 6.9, 95% confidence interval 3.4-15.5). CONCLUSIONS: There has been rapid, recent growth in the number of vape stores in WA, with most located within walking distance of schools. In metropolitan WA, vape store density is strongly associated with socio-economic disadvantage, mirroring the pattern observed globally for tobacco outlets. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: This is the first Australian study demonstrating that vape stores are more densely located in socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Vape stores' proximity to schools may increase young people's access and exposure to promotional signage. There is a need to address ready e-cigarette availability through strong regulatory and compliance measures.

Uptake of Best Medical Therapy: Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Vascular Surgical Patients in Western Australia.

Best medical therapy (BMT) for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), carotid artery stenosis (CAS) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) involving concomitant use of antiplatelets, lipid-lowering agents, and blood pressure control, improves patient survival and prevents clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD). We performed a single-center cross-sectional study, over a 4-year period, describing BMT use in Western Australian patients with symptomatic PAD, CAS and AAA in the community. Overall, 45.3% of our cohort (n = 1689) were on appropriate BMT (CAS, 58.1%; PAD, 43.1%; AAA, 41.1%). There was highest uptake of blood pressure control at 93.0% (lipid-lowering agents, 65.3%; antithrombotics 63.5%). PAD was associated with highest uptake of blood pressure control (PAD 93.9%; CAS, 91.4%; AAA, 91.1%, P = .092) whilst CAS had highest uptake of antithrombotics (CAS 76.3%; PAD, 61.0%; AAA 60.4%, P < .001) and lipid-lowering agents (CAS 78.7%; PAD, 63.1%; AAA, 60.4%, P < .001). Our study indicates suboptimal use of BMT in patients with vascular disease in the community. The risk of CVD in CAS is likely misperceived as higher than PAD and AAA.

The spectrum of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies in Western Australia: epidemiological characteristics and mortality over time.

To determine long term overall and subgroup specific incidence rates and associated mortality for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) in a population wide study. We included patients hospitalised between 1980 and 2015 with incident IIM as defined by relevant diagnostic codes for dermatomyositis (DM) polymyositis (PM), inclusion body myositis (IBM), other IIM and overlap myositis (OM) in the Western Australia Health Hospital Morbidity Data Collection (n = 846). Trends over time for annual incidence rate per million population (AIR) were analysed by least square regression and Kaplan-Meier survival and mortality rates (MR)/100 person years compared with a matched control group (n = 3681). The averaged AIR for all IIM was 19 (CI 10.4-27.5) and stable over time with point prevalence reaching 205.3 (CI 185.6-226.6) per million in 2015. Over time, the AIR for DM 5.0 (CI 0.6-9.4) and IBM 3.3 (CI 0.7-9.6) was stable, while AIR decreased for PM (p < 0.01) and increased for other IIM (p < 0.01) and OM (p < 0.01). IBM patients were eldest at diagnosis (68 years, CI 59-77) with male preponderance in IBM (53.4%) and other IIM (55.8%) groups. Crude mortality (54.5 vs 41.3%), MR ratio (6.65 vs 5.91) and 5 (65.8% vs 71.6%) and 10-year (52.5% vs 58.7%) survival were all worse for IIM patients (all p < 0.05). IBM patients had highest MR (10.1; CI 8.38-12.14) and lowest 10-year survival (39.2%). While cardiovascular disease and cancer were predominant causes of death, they were proportionally lower in IIM patients, where respiratory and rheumatic disease were more frequent causes of death. While the overall incidence of IIM in WA was stable over 35 years, the spectrum of IIM has changed significantly with increases especially in other IIM and OM. The overall prognosis with IIM remains guarded with 10-year survival just over 50%.

The Western Australian Mesothelioma Registry: Analysis of 60 years of cases.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Australia introduced a partial ban on asbestos consumption in 1984. There is continuing concern about exposure to asbestos in the built environment and non-occupational exposures. The aim of this study was to describe epidemiological trends of mesothelioma in Western Australia (WA) over the 60 years since the first case was recorded. METHODS: Every case of mesothelioma notified to the WA Cancer Registry is reviewed by an expert panel. Data include demographic and clinical variables including principal mode of asbestos exposure and age at first exposure. Trends over time for survival, latency and pathological subtype of mesothelioma where analysed. Incidence rates for cases exposed during home renovation where calculated. RESULTS: Two thousand seven hundred ninety-six cases of mesothelioma were identified with males comprising the majority (n = 2368, 84.7%). The median (IQR) age at diagnosis was 70 (62-78) years, and median latency of 47 (38-55) years. Pleural mesothelioma was recorded in 2620 (93.7%) cases with the epithelioid subtype most prevalent (n = 1730, 61.9%). Overall, median survival was 298 (128-585) days and latency 46 (37-54) years, both effectively doubling over the study period. Non-occupational exposures were proportionally higher in females (52.6%), compared with males (9.5%). Home renovation was the primary exposure in 227 (8.1%) cases, with number of cases and incidence rate ratio peaking in 2005/09 but subsequently decreasing. CONCLUSION: The annual number of cases of mesothelioma in WA may have hit a plateau. The majority of females have non-occupational exposures and incidence rates from home renovation exposure may have peaked, suggesting the ban on asbestos has been effective.

Outcomes for pregnant women with Borderline Personality Disorder who attended a specialist antenatal service.

OBJECTIVE: Our study focussed on the obstetric and psychosocial outcomes of pregnant women with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) who received care via a specialist antenatal clinic in Western Australia. METHOD: This study is a retrospective examination of outcomes for 80 women with a confirmed diagnosis of BPD, with findings compared with published population outcome data for the state. RESULTS: Pregnant women with BPD appeared to be at a risk of complications including pre-eclampsia and special care nursery admission for their newborns when compared to population data. Furthermore, the studied women had elevated rates of psychiatric admissions during pregnancy, child protection involvement, and domestic violence. Polypharmacy exposure was frequent, with the likely impact on obstetric and neonatal outcomes requiring further study. CONCLUSION: The findings reinforced the notion that pregnant women with BPD experience complex multifaceted vulnerabilities and require enhanced multidisciplinary care. Our study further calls for the development of clinical practice guidelines for managing BPD in the perinatal period.

A Review of Cardiac Surgical Procedures and Their Outcomes for Paediatric Rheumatic Heart Disease in Western Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical intervention is an important treatment modality for advanced rheumatic heart disease (RHD). This study aimed to describe patient characteristics and outcomes from cardiac surgery for RHD in patients referred to the only tertiary paediatric hospital in Western Australia. METHODS: An analysis of patient characteristics and cardiac surgery outcomes in patients with RHD was undertaken, using data from clinical cardiac databases, medical notes, and correspondence from rural outreach clinics. RESULTS: 29 patients (59% female, 97% Aboriginal, Maori or Pacific Islander) underwent 41 valve interventions over 34 cardiac surgeries for RHD between 2000-2018. Median age at first surgery was 12.2 (range 4-16) years. Severe mitral regurgitation (MR) was the most common indication for primary surgery (62%), followed by mixed mitral regurgitation/aortic regurgitation (21%) and severe aortic regurgitation (17%). Mitral valve repair was the most common valve intervention (56%). Two patients had mitral valve replacement (MVR) at first operation, two patients had MVR at second operation and two had MVR at third operation. There was no early mortality. One patient required early (<30 days) reoperation for aortic valve repair failure. Two patients had late reoperations at 3.3 and 6.1 months after the first procedure for MR. Four (14%) patients experienced documented ARF recurrences. Late mortality occurred in 3 (10%) patients, all due to cardiac causes. On last follow-up echocardiogram 5 patients (17%) had moderate MR and none had severe MR. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to describe characteristics and outcomes in WA paediatric patients having surgery for RHD. Outcomes are comparable to similar studies, with favourable long-term survival.

Use of CT, ED presentation and hospitalisations 12 months before and after a diagnosis of cancer in Western Australia: a population-based retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the use of CT, emergency department (ED)-presentation and hospitalisation and in 12 months before and after a diagnosis of cancer. DESIGN: Population-based retrospective cohort study. SETTING: West Australian linked administrative records at individual level. PARTICIPANTS: 104 009 adults newly diagnosed with cancer in 2004-2014. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: CT use, ED presentations, hospitalisations. RESULTS: As compared with the rates in the 12th month before diagnosis, the rate of CT scans started to increase from 2 months before diagnosis with an increase in both ED presentations and hospitalisation from 1 month before the diagnosis. These rates peaked in the month of diagnosis for CT scans (477 (95% CI 471 to 482) per 1000 patients), and for hospitalisations (910 (95% CI 902 to 919) per 1000 patients), and the month prior to diagnosis for ED (181 (95% CI 178 to 184) per 1000 patients) then rapidly reduced after diagnosis but remained high for the next 12 months. While the patterns of the health services used were similar between 2004 and 2014, the rate of the health services used during after diagnosis was higher in 2014 versus 2004 except for CT use in patients with lymphohaematopoietic cancer with a significant reduction. CONCLUSION: Our results showed an increase in demand for health services from 2 months before diagnosis of cancer. Increasing use of health services during and post cancer diagnosis may warrant further investigation to identify factors driving this change.

Exposure to low-level ambient air pollution and the relationship with lung and bladder cancer in older men, in Perth, Western Australia.

BACKGROUND: Air pollution is a cause of lung cancer and is associated with bladder cancer. However, the relationship between air pollution and these cancers in regions of low pollution is unclear. We investigated associations between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and black carbon (BC), and both these cancers in a low-pollution city. METHODS: A cohort of 11,679 men ≥65 years old in Perth (Western Australia) were followed from 1996-1999 until 2018. Pollutant concentrations, as a time-varying variable, were estimated at participants' residential addresses using land use regression models. Incident lung and bladder cancer were identified through the Western Australian Cancer Registry. Risks were estimated using Cox proportional-hazard models (age as the timescale), adjusting for smoking, socioeconomic status, and co-pollutants. RESULTS: Lung cancer was associated with PM2.5 and BC in the adjusted single-pollutant models. A weak positive association was observed between ambient air pollution and squamous cell lung carcinoma but not lung adenocarcinoma. Positive associations were observed with bladder cancer, although these were not statistically significant. Associations were attenuated in two-pollutant models. CONCLUSION: Low-level ambient air pollution is associated with lung, and possibly bladder, cancer among older men, suggesting there is no known safe level for air pollution as a carcinogen.

Hospitalizations and Cost of Inpatient Care for Physical Diseases in Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Western Australia: A Longitudinal Matched Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The long-term effects of childhood cancer are unclear in the Australian context. We examined hospitalization trends for physical diseases and estimated the associated inpatient care costs in all 5-year childhood cancer survivors (CCS) diagnosed in Western Australia (WA) from 1982 to 2014. METHODS: Hospitalization records for 2,938 CCS and 24,792 comparisons were extracted from 1987 to 2019 (median follow-up = 12 years, min = 1, max = 32). The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of hospitalization with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was estimated using the Andersen-Gill model for recurrent events. The cumulative burden of hospitalizations over time was assessed using the mean cumulative count method. The adjusted mean cost of hospitalization was estimated using the generalized linear models. RESULTS: We identified a higher risk of hospitalization for all-cause (aHR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.8-2.2) physical disease in CCS than comparisons, with the highest risk for subsequent malignant neoplasms (aHR, 15.0; 95% CI, 11.3-19.8) and blood diseases (aHR, 6.9; 95% CI, 2.6-18.2). Characteristics associated with higher hospitalization rates included female gender, diagnosis with bone tumors, cancer diagnosis age between 5 and 9 years, multiple childhood cancer diagnoses, multiple comorbidities, higher deprivation, increased remoteness, and Indigenous status. The difference in the mean total hospitalization costs for any disease was significantly higher in survivors than comparisons (publicly funded $11,483 United States Dollar, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The CCS population faces a significantly higher risk of physical morbidity and higher cost of hospital-based care than the comparisons. IMPACT: Our study highlights the need for long-term follow-up healthcare services to prevent disease progression and mitigate the burden of physical morbidity on CCS and hospital services.