Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS)
Primary Health Interest: Respiratory Disease
Research Approach: Epidemiology (Genetic & Environmental)
Resource & Study: TAHS
The Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study (TAHS) commenced in 1968 by recruiting all Tasmanian school children born in 1961 to take part in a study of asthma. A total of 8,583 (99%) of those invited participated, and are referred to as probands. The parents of these children completed a respiratory questionnaire on behalf of the proband, themselves and all the children’s sibling. The proband’s lung function was assessed by the state school medical officer. The population-based family cohort at baseline totalled over n=45,000 individuals and n=8,583 families (n=16,267 parents and n=21,036 siblings). The TAHS probands have been followed up several times over the last 40 years. We currently have 3 NHMRC project grants nested within the TAHS.
These projects are:
(1) Sib study - Follow up study of the 21,036 sibling members of the TAHS cohort who have not been surveyed since 1968;
(2) BHR study - to assess bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR) in the proband members of the TAHS cohort who were part of the most recent laboratory follow-up in 2004;
(3) Parents study - a follow-up study of the parents of the TAHS to assess respiratory and allergic diseases.
Chief Investigators:
A/Prof Shyamali Dharmage Prof John Hopper Dr Melanie Matheson A/Prof Lyle Gurrin
Project Funding:
National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC)
Projects Associated to TAHS:
What Increases the Reactivity of Airways in Middle-Age
Epidemiology of Chronic Respiratory Diseases in Middle Age: 35-Year Follow-Up of the TAHS
Filaggrin mutations and allergic disease risk
Why Do Some Adults have Chronic Respiratory Diseases
TAHS Team TAHS Diagram
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