Residential mobility and socioemotional and behavioural difficulties in a preschool population cohort of New Zealand children

BackgroundFindings regarding early residential mobility and increased risk for socioemotional and behavioural (SEB) difficulties in preschool children are mixed, with some studies finding no evidence of an association once known covariates are controlled for. Our aim was to investigate residential mobility and SEB difficulties in a population cohort of New Zealand (NZ) children.MethodsData from the Integrated Data Infrastructure were examined for 313 164 children born in NZ since 2004 who had completed the Before School Check at 4 years of age. Residential mobility was determined from address data. SEB difficulty scores were obtained from the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire administered as part of the Before School Check.ResultsThe prevalence of residential mobility was 69%; 12% of children had moved ≥4 times. A linear association between residential mobility and increased SEB difficulties was found (B=0.58), which remained robust when controlling for several known covariates. Moves >10 km and moving to areas of higher socioeconomic deprivation were associated with increased SEB difficulties (B=0.08 and B=0.09, respectively), while residential mobility before 2 years of age was not. Children exposed to greater residential mobility were 8% more likely to obtain SEB difficulties scores of clinical concern than children exposed to fewer moves (adjusted OR 1.08).ConclusionThis study found a linear association between residential mobility and increased SEB difficulties in young children. This result highlights the need to consider residential mobility as a risk factor for SEB difficulties in the preschool years.

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How universal are universal pre-school health and developmental screens? Evidence from New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI)

International Journal for Population Data Science ◽

10.23889/ijpds.v3i2.513 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Richard Audas

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Residential Mobility ◽

School Health ◽

Developmental Milestones ◽

Health Records ◽

Data Infrastructure ◽

Eligible Population ◽

Data Files ◽

Before School ◽

Conventional Risk Factors

In New Zealand, children participate in a pre-school screen to ensure they are reaching key developmental milestones and not having significant physical, emotional or behavioural issues. This pre-school screen is called the Before School Check (B4SC) and it is intended to be implemented after the child's fourth birthday and before they enter school, after their fifth birthday. If children fall short of key developmental milestones or have other health or behavioural issues, they may be referred to other services so that they these problems can be remediated prior to entry to primary school. In New Zealand, B4SC participation is high, with greater than 90% of the eligible population participating each year. However, the rates of completion are lower, with many children not completing all components. We speculate that non-participation in the B4SC, is concentrated among the most vulnerable of children – those who would most likely benefit from an intervention. In New Zealand, government collected administrative files, including the B4SC are housed in the Statistics New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). We link B4SC records to a variety of data files, including health records, census and measures of residential mobility and find conventional risk factors significantly predict B4SC participation.

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Residential Mobility and Changes in Deprivation Levels For 0 – 4 Year Olds in New Zealand

International Journal for Population Data Science ◽

10.23889/ijpds.v5i5.1553 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Oliver Robertson ◽

Kim Nathan ◽

Philippa Howden-Chapman ◽

Michael Baker ◽

Polly Atatoa Carr ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Residential Mobility ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Data Infrastructure ◽

High Deprivation ◽

Residential Moves ◽

Government Data ◽

Deprived Areas

IntroductionHigh residential mobility has been shown to have a negative impact on young children, with long-term consequences for their physical and mental health, and social outcomes. Understanding the broad trends in moves and differentiating between moves to neighbourhoods which are likely to have ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ consequences is an important question in the residential mobility literature, with important implications for public policy and children’s health. Objectives and ApproachThe aims of this study are to describe the level and changes in neighbourhood deprivation that occur during residential moves involving children aged 0–4 years of age in New Zealand, and to assess whether these changes differ for children of different ethnicities. Our cohort is 565,689 children born in New Zealand from 2004 to 2018. The dataset of residential moves is created using the full address notification table from the Integrated Data Infrastructure, a set of government data tables that have been linked and anonymised by Statistics New Zealand. ResultsWhile there is a reasonable amount of mobility in terms of the deprivation of the area in which a child lives, the most likely outcome of a move is that it will be to an area with the same level of deprivation. This is especially true for the most and least deprived areas. Areas of high deprivation have the highest levels of churn and residential mobility. Māori and Pasifika children have lower levels of socioeconomic mobility and are more likely to move into and to stay in, areas of high deprivation. Conclusion / ImplicationsChildren living in highly deprived areas are likely to stay in high deprivation areas. Children living in these areas also move more frequently than the general population. Māori and Pasifika children are overrepresented in high deprivation areas, and on average they move more frequently than the group of all children aged 0 – 4.

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Below Average Cognitive Ability—An under Researched Risk Factor for Emotional-Behavioural Difficulties in Childhood

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph182412923 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (24) ◽

pp. 12923

Author(s):

Andrea K. Bowe ◽

Anthony Staines ◽

Deirdre M. Murray

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Ability ◽

Population Based ◽

Growing Up ◽

Research Priority ◽

At Risk Children ◽

Behavioural Difficulties ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Strengths And Difficulties ◽

Clinically Significant ◽

The Relationship

Children with below average cognitive ability represent a substantial yet under-researched population for whom cognitive and social demands, which increase in complexity year by year, may pose significant challenges. This observational study examines the longitudinal relationship between early cognitive ability and emotional-behavioral difficulties (EBDs) between the age of three and nine. Participants include 7134 children from the population-based cohort study growing up in Ireland. Cognitive ability was measured at age three using the Picture Similarities Scale. A t-score one to two standard deviations below the mean was defined as below average cognitive ability (n = 767). EBDs were measured using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at three, five, and nine years of age. Generalized linear mixed models and logistic regression were used to examine the relationship. Below average cognitive ability was an independent predictor of higher longitudinal SDQ scores. After adjustment, children with below average cognitive ability were 1.39 times more likely (AOR 1.39, 95% CI 1.17–1.66, p < 0.001) to experience a clinically significant EBD between the ages of three to nine years. This study demonstrates the increased risk of EBDs for children with below average cognitive ability. A scalable method of early identification of at-risk children should be a research priority for public health, enabling early intervention for cognitive and adaptive outcomes.

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Predicting the use Literacy Interventions Using a Pre-School Health and Developmental Screen: Evidence from New Zealand’s Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI)

International Journal for Population Data Science ◽

10.23889/ijpds.v3i2.512 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Richard Audas

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

New Zealand ◽

Early Literacy ◽

School Health ◽

Literacy Intervention ◽

Data Infrastructure ◽

Literacy Interventions ◽

Data Files ◽

Before School ◽

One Year

Early literacy attainment is a key progression towards advanced learning. All New Zealand schools offer interventions for children who are farthest from standard in literacy, although these interventions typically do not commence until the child has been in school for one year. Considerable evidence demonstrates that literacy interventions can be effective, if implemented as early as possible. As such there is significant benefit in quickly identifying those most at risk of failing to meet the literacy standard. In New Zealand all children are expected to get a Before School Check (B4SC) between their fourth birthday and prior to entering school. These checks are generally conducted by public health nurses, with children's health and developmental status being divided into seven categories. Data linkage across government collected administrative data files can be conducted in the Statistics New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). The IDI provides a whole of population inter-departmental architecture to link individuals. In this study, we link individual's B4SC records to school interventions data as well as to birth and census records. Using a time-to-event approach, we find that there is significant predictive value in using B4SC to identify children who are at risk of requiring a literacy intervention.

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Methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms: findings from a New Zealand longitudinal birth cohort

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291721002415 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Joseph M. Boden ◽

James A. Foulds ◽

Giles Newton-Howes ◽

Rebecca McKetin

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

General Population ◽

Birth Cohort ◽

Individual Characteristics ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Confounding Factors ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Methamphetamine Use ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Psychosis Risk

Abstract Background This study examined the association between methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms in a New Zealand general population birth cohort (n = 1265 at birth). Methods At age 18, 21, 25, 30, and 35, participants reported on their methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms in the period since the previous interview. Generalized estimating equations modelled the association between methamphetamine use and psychotic symptoms (percentage reporting any symptom, and number of symptoms per participant). Confounding factors included childhood individual characteristics, family socioeconomic circumstances and family functioning. Long term effects of methamphetamine use on psychotic symptoms were assessed by comparing the incidence of psychotic symptoms at age 30–35 for those with and without a history of methamphetamine use prior to age 30. Results After adjusting for confounding factors and time-varying covariate factors including concurrent cannabis use, methamphetamine use was associated with a modest increase in psychosis risk over five waves of data (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.72 for the percentage measure; and IRR 1.24, 95% CI 1.02–1.50 for the symptom count measure). The increased risk of psychotic symptoms was concentrated among participants who had used at least weekly at any point (adjusted OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.21–6.69). Use of methamphetamine less than weekly was not associated with increased psychosis risk. We found no evidence for a persistent vulnerability to psychosis in the absence of continuing methamphetamine use. Conclusion Methamphetamine use is associated with increased risk of psychotic symptoms in the general population. Increased risk is chiefly confined to people who ever used regularly (at least weekly), and recently.

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Associations between dietary patterns and the incidence of total and fatal cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in 116,806 individuals from the UK Biobank: a prospective cohort study

BMC Medicine ◽

10.1186/s12916-021-01958-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Min Gao ◽

Susan A. Jebb ◽

Paul Aveyard ◽

Gina L. Ambrosini ◽

Aurora Perez-Cornago ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Energy Density ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Dietary Pattern ◽

Saturated Fat ◽

Dietary Advice ◽

Free Sugars ◽

Linear Association ◽

Increased Risk ◽

All Cause Mortality

Abstract Background Traditionally, studies investigating diet and health associations have focused on single nutrients. However, key nutrients co-exist in many common foods, and studies focusing solely on individual nutrients may obscure their combined effects on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. We aimed to identify food-based dietary patterns which operate through excess energy intake and explain high variability in energy density, free sugars, saturated fat, and fiber intakes and to investigate their association with total and fatal CVD and all-cause mortality. Methods Detailed dietary data was collected using a 24-h online dietary assessment on two or more occasions (n = 116,806). We used reduced rank regression to derive dietary patterns explaining the maximum variance. Multivariable Cox-proportional hazards models were used to investigate prospective associations with all-cause mortality and fatal and non-fatal CVD. Results Over an average of 4.9 years of follow-up, 4245 cases of total CVD, 838 cases of fatal CVD, and 3629 cases of all-cause mortality occurred. Two dietary patterns were retained that jointly explained 63% of variation in energy density, free sugars, saturated fat, and fiber intakes in total. The main dietary pattern was characterized by high intakes of chocolate and confectionery, butter and low-fiber bread, and low intakes of fresh fruit and vegetables. There was a positive linear association between the dietary pattern and total CVD [hazard ratio (HR) per z-score 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–1.09; HRtotal CVD 1.40, 95% CI 1.31–1.50, and HRall-cause mortality 1.37, 95% CI 1.27–1.47 in highest quintile]. A second dietary pattern was characterized by a higher intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juice, and table sugar/preserves. There was a non-linear association with total CVD risk and all-cause mortality, with increased risk in the highest quintile [HRtotal CVD 1.14, 95% CI 1.07–1.22; HRall-cause mortality 1.11, 95% CI 1.03–1.19]. Conclusions We identified dietary patterns which are associated with increased risk of CVD and all-cause mortality. These results help identify specific foods and beverages which are major contributors to unhealthy dietary patterns and provide evidence to underpin food-based dietary advice to reduce health risks.

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Gendered experiences of unemployment, suicide and self-harm: a population-level record linkage study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291721000994 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

R. Cunningham ◽

A. Milner ◽

S. Gibb ◽

V. Rijnberg ◽

G. Disney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Employment Status ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Labour Force ◽

Antidepressant Medication ◽

Population Level ◽

Related Factors ◽

Data Infrastructure ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Self Harm

Abstract Background Unemployment and being not in the labour force (NILF) are risk factors for suicide, but their association with self-harm is unclear, and there is continuing debate about the role of confounding by prior mental health conditions. We examine associations between employment status and self-harm and suicide in a prospective cohort, taking into account prior mental-health-related factors. Methods We used linked data from the New Zealand Integrated Data Infrastructure. The outcomes were chosen to be hospital presentation for self-harm and death by suicide. The exposure was employment status, defined as employed, unemployed, or NILF, measured at the 2013 Census. Confounders included demographic factors and mental health history (use of antidepressant medication, use of mental health services, and prior self-harm). Logistic regression was used to model effects. Analyses were stratified by gender. Results For males, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide [odds ratio (OR): 1.48, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–1.84] and self-harm (OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.45–1.68) after full adjustment for confounders. NILF was associated with an increased risk of self-harm (OR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.32–1.55), but less of an association was seen with suicide (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.94–1.49). For females, unemployment was associated with an increased risk of suicide (OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.93–1.80) and of self-harm (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.43–1.62), and NILF was associated with a similar increase in risk for suicide (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 0.98–1.75) and self-harm (OR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.26–1.40). Discussion Exclusion from employment is associated with a considerably heightened risk of suicide and self-harm for both men and women, even among those without prior mental health problems.

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Abstract P102: Variability In Lipid Levels And Risk For Cardiovascular Disease: An Electronic Health Record-based Population Cohort Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.143.suppl_1.p102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 143 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Sheila M Manemann ◽

Suzette J Bielinski ◽

Ethan D Moser ◽

Jennifer L St. Sauver ◽

Paul Y Takahashi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Electronic Health Record ◽

Total Cholesterol ◽

Index Date ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Lipoprotein Cholesterol ◽

Health Record ◽

Lipid Levels ◽

Population Cohort ◽

Increased Risk

Background: Larger within-patient variability of lipid levels has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, measures of lipid variability are not currently used clinically. We investigated the feasibility of calculating lipid variability within a large electronic health record (EHR)-based population cohort and assessed associations with incident CVD. Methods: We identified all individuals ≥40 years of age who resided in Olmsted County, MN on 1/1/2006 (index date) without prior CVD. CVD was defined as myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, percutaneous coronary intervention or stroke. Patients with ≥3 measurements of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and/or triglycerides during the 5 years before the index date were retained in the analyses. Lipid variability was calculated using variability independent of the mean (VIM). Patients were followed through 9/30/2017 for incident CVD (including CVD death). Cox regression was used to investigate the association between quintiles of lipid VIMs and incident CVD. Results: We identified 18,642 individuals (mean age 60; 55% female) who were free of CVD at baseline and VIM calculated for at least one lipid measurement. After adjustment, those in the highest VIM quintiles of total cholesterol had a 25% increased risk of CVD (Q5 vs. Q1 HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.08-1.45; Table). We observed similar results for LDL-C (Q5 vs. Q1 HR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04-1.39) and HDL-C (Q5 vs. Q1 HR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.09-1.43). There was no association between triglyceride variability quintiles and CVD risk. Conclusion: In a large EHR-based population cohort, high variability in total cholesterol, HDL-C and LDL-C was associated with an increased risk of CVD, independently of traditional risk factors, suggesting it may be a target for intervention. Lipid variability can be calculated in the EHR environment but more research is needed to determine its clinical utility.

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Sleep, social behavior and food consumption of schoolchildren of a large Brazilian city

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020003924 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

Adriana Cândida da Silva ◽

Érica Leandro Marciano Vieira ◽

Luana Caroline dos Santos

Keyword(s):

Food Consumption ◽

Social Behaviour ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Biochemical Tests ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Strengths And Difficulties ◽

Before School ◽

Sleep Talking

Abstract Objective: To characterize sleep and associated factors to their inadequacy, mainly social behaviour and food consumption of children and adolescents. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Sleep information, social behaviour (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), food consumption, demography, nutritional status, lifestyle and biochemical tests were investigated. Participants: Schoolchildren of the 4th grade of the municipal school system of a large Brazilian city. Results: A total of 797 schoolchildren, 50.9% was female, median of 9.7 (9.5-10.0) y old and energy consumption of 1819.7 (1429.9-2334.2) kcal. It was identified 31.6% of overweight and 76.8% reported insufficient weekly practice of physical activity. It was observed a median of 9.6 (8.9-10.5) h of sleep (lower values on weekdays: 9.3 vs 10.5h, P<0.001). In addition, 27% of individuals with inadequate sleep (<9h) enjoy longer screen time daily (≥2h/day) (P=0.05), inadequate bedtime (>22h) or adequate wake-up time (5-7h), study in the morning (P<0.001) and never take a shower before school (P<0.001). There was 9.9% of the sample with poor and very poor sleep quality and a greater probability of always sleep talking, have difficulty getting to sleep and inadequate social behaviour between these in relation to those with positive quality of sleep. There was no association of sleep with the other variables investigated. Conclusions: Sleep impairment contributed to changes in sleep and social behaviour in schoolchildren. The findings of this study may reinforce the importance of developing actions to promote adequate sleep and lifestyle at school age.

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Retrospective study of the relative frequency of feline hepatobiliary disease in New Zealand based on 10 years of hepatic biopsy samples

Veterinary Record Open ◽

10.1136/vetreco-2019-000367 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000367

Author(s):

Thomas Fluen ◽

Michael Hardcastle ◽

Helen L Smith ◽

Robyn N A Gear

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Relative Frequency ◽

Small Animal ◽

Hepatobiliary Disease ◽

Hepatocellular Injury ◽

Biopsy Specimens ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Gender And Age ◽

Hepatobiliary Diseases ◽

Parenchymal Disease

AimsTo retrospectively determine the relative frequency of feline hepatobiliary diseases from biopsy specimens submitted to a single laboratory across a 10-year period and to establish whether age, sex or breed associations exist.MethodsHistopathological data from 154 liver biopsies of New Zealand cats sampled between 2008 and 2018 were analysed. The samples were allocated to primary, secondary and tertiary disease categories using criteria established by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association. Breed associations were derived using ORs and 95% CIs. Gender and age associations were also evaluated.ResultsThe most frequently diagnosed hepatobiliary diseases were lymphocytic cholangitis (20 per cent), hepatitis (16.9 per cent), reversible hepatocellular injury (16.4 per cent), neutrophilic cholangitis (9.7 per cent), haematopoietic neoplasia (9.7 per cent), hepatocellular neoplasia (5.6 per cent) and cholangiocellular neoplasia (4.1 per cent). Burmese cats were found to be at significantly increased risk of both biliary and parenchymal diseases and Birman cats to be at significantly increased risk of parenchymal disease. Domestic longhair cats were at significantly increased risk of hepatobiliary neoplasia. Birman cats were at significantly increased risk of hepatitis while domestic shorthair cats were at significantly decreased risk of neutrophilic cholangitis, reversible hepatocellular injury and hepatitis.ConclusionsThis study is the first retrospective examination of the relative frequency of hepatobiliary disease in biopsy specimens from New Zealand cats. Some breeds were associated with specific histopathology.

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