Early Detection of Lung Disease to Improve Lifelong Trajectories

A significant global challenge is the escalating incidence of chronic lung diseases contributing to morbidity and

mortality at all stages of life. These diseases have their origins in childhood with the developing lung susceptible to a variety of environmental insults. Low lung function is a major risk factor for acute and chronic lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and premature death. Lung function trajectories are established early in life, with early deviations indicating disease onset, progression, and increased life-long disease risk.

Most lung disease begins in peripheral airways, which occupy 95% of the lung volume, yet are not well reflected in conventional lung function tests. Spirometry has been the gold standard technique to assess lung function impairment and monitor disease progression. However, spirometry does not reflect abnormalities in the peripheral lung and young children (≤6 years) are frequently not able to perform the test due to the complex forced expiratory manoeuvres required. Accurate, sensitive, and feasible lung function tests that detect abnormalities in peripheral airways in young children are desperately needed to diagnose chronic lung disease early in life. This largescale multi-centre project responds to the unmet clinical need and consumer priority to improve the early detection of lung disease in childhood, and directly aligns with the objective and intended outcomes of Stream 1.

This project will generate the evidence needed to implement promising lung function tests, multiple breath washout (MBW) and oscillometry (OSC), into clinical practice to enable early detection of lung function impairment in young children (youth: priority population). Implementation of these tests into clinical practice will result in a paradigm shift in the ability to detect and treat early lung function impairment in childhood, optimise lifelong lung function trajectories, and reduce the risk of early-onset chronic disease and premature death.

If you are interested, please contact Dr Tamara Blake for further information.