Spirometric lung function impairment is an independent predictor of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, and mortality across a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds and environmental settings. No contemporary studies have explored these relationships in a predominantly regional/remote First Nations population, whose health outcomes are worse than for non-First Nations populations, and First Nations people living in urban centres. This was a retrospective cohort study of 1,734 adults (1,113 First Nations) referred to specialist respiratory outreach clinics in the state of Queensland, Australia from February 2012 to March 2020. Regression modelling was used to test associations between lung function and mortality and cardiovascular disease. At the time of analysis (August 2020), 189 patients had died: 88 (47%) from respiratory causes and 38 (20%) from cardiovascular causes. When compared to patients with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) and forced vital capacity (FVC) Z-scores of >0 to -1, patients with Z-scores <-1 were at elevated mortality risk (HR=3•2, 95%CI 1•4-7•4; HR=2•6, 95%CI 1•3-5•1), and elevated cardiovascular disease risk (OR=1•5, 95%CI 1•1-2•2; OR=1•6, 95%CI 1•2-2•3). FEV₁/FVC% Z-scores <-1 were associated with increased overall mortality (HR=1•6, 95%CI 1•1-2•3), but not cardiovascular disease (OR=1•1, 95%CI 0•8-1•4). These associations were not affected by First Nations status. Reduced lung function even within the clinically normal range is associated with increased mortality, and cardiovascular disease in First Nations Australians. These findings highlight the importance of lung function optimisation and inform the need for future investment to improve outcomes in First Nations populations. None.

Background: Some but not all previous studies report that pneumonia in children aged less than five years is associated with lower lung function and elevated risk of respiratory disease. To date, none have explored these associations in at-risk populations such as First Nations Australians, whose incidence of early childhood pneumonia is among the highest reported in the world. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1276 First Nations Australian children/young adults aged 5–25 years recruited from regional/remote Queensland and Northern Territory communities and schools. Associations between pneumonia and both spirometry values and asthma were investigated using linear and logistic regression. Results: Early childhood pneumonia was associated with lower FEV1 and FVC Z-scores, but not FEV1/FVC% Z-scores, when occurring before age three (FEV1 β = −0.42, [95%CI −0.79, −0.04]; FVC β = −0.62, [95%CI −1.14, −0.09]), and between three and five years (β = −0.50, [95%CI −0.88, −0.12]; β = −0.63, [95%CI −1.17, −0.10]), compared to those who never had pneumonia. Similarly, pneumonia occurring when aged before age three years (OR = 3.68, 95%CI 1.96–6.93) and three to five years (OR = 4.81, 95%CI 1.46–15.8) was associated with increased risk of asthma in later childhood. Conclusions: Early childhood pneumonia is associated with lung function deficits and increased asthma risk in later childhood/early adulthood in First Nations Australians. The disproportionate impact of pneumonia on at-risk children must be addressed as a priority.

Child-BEAR-Net has developed internationally derived, parent- and patient-informed, consensus-based quality standard statements for managing children and adolescents with bronchiectasis that can be used to improve the quality of care they receivehttps://bit.ly/3xTRjPt