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Daily Telegraph
04-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Telegraph
TGA approves Mounjaro as first medicine registered to treat obstructive sleep apnoea in adults with obesity
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. A new drug is expected to be approved by Australia's Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) as the first ever prescribed medicinal treatment for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA). The medicine, called Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is designed specifically to treat adults with OSA - a disease which affects around 780,000 Australians. The drug is designed specifically to help treat people who are diagnosed with OSA as a result of obesity given the strong link that exists between both conditions. Andrew Beveridge with the machine that helps him breath at night during sleep. Picture: Tricia Watkinson Respiratory and sleep specialist Professor Brendon Yee said the drug was a 'treatment option' for patients with moderate-to-severe OSA. 'You wouldn't use this medication in sleep apnoea patients who are not obese - which is maybe about 20% of patients,' Professor Yee said. 'There isn't one kind of treatment for the disease…it's important to assess patients based on what the best treatment is for them. Sometimes it may be a combination of things, for instance a combination of weight loss plus a trial of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines,' he said. 'Mounjaro is private script only, it's TGA approved. It's based on a sleep study and patients have to have obesity… it has the advantage that people can lose weight… but you have to sustain that weight loss.' Damon Sedgwick works in IT and loves performing in amateur theatre - something he found himself doing less and less after he was diagnosed with OSA. 'My partner noticed I was snoring in bed and I would stop breathing at times. I went and had a sleep study and was diagnosed with OSA,' Mr Wedgwick said. 'I tried to use a CPAP…I was using it and I did have a lot of success, but I was still overweight and I still had a dependence on the machine. It was a bit of a burden,' he said. Mounjaro fat-loss drug. Picture: Supplied 'A professor put me in touch with the Woolcock Institute…they said there's a new drug they're trialling and I said yes… the outcome of that after I finished was that I lost about 50 kilos.' Mr Sedgwick said he was able to reclaim the parts of his life which had been put on hold. 'It made a massive difference to my life. I don't snore at night anymore. I used to wake up 60 times on any given night, and now I barely do it once. It's good to be able to move - even walking to the shops is easy now,' he said. 'It's not a miracle shot. It's not a magic bullet, you have to work hard. I still have to watch what I eat and drink, I still have to exercise. It can't be used in isolation, you have to put the hard yards in.' Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@
The Guardian
03-06-2025
- General
- The Guardian
E-scooter injury toll revealed in study just ‘tip of the iceberg' in Australia, doctors warn
Every three days, a child injured on an e-scooter would come through the emergency department doors at the Sunshine Coast university hospital, according to Dr Matthew Clanfield. Between 2023 and 2024, 176 children were treated at the Queensland hospital. Some got off lucky with a scuffed knee. Others suffered life-threatening brain injuries requiring neurosurgery and psychological care. Clanfield's analysis of these injuries in under-16s treated at the hospital have been published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. It is the first data in Australia to capture paediatric e-scooter injuries, and it's 'only the tip of the iceberg', Clanfield said. Analysing paediatric ED triage notes, the ages of those injured ranged between five and 15 years old. One in 10 had life-threatening or potentially life-threatening injuries, and more than a third suffered at least one bone fracture. Based on self-reported data from the patients, at the time of the accidents, 42% of children were not wearing a helmet; 36% were exceeding the legal speed limit of 25 kilometres an hour for e-scooters on Queensland roads; and in 13% of cases two people were riding one scooter. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email 'We had one child who got up to 70 kilometres an hour on an e-scooter and T-boned a car,' Clanfield said. In May, the Crisafulli LNP government announced a parliamentary inquiry into e-bike and e-scooter safety, but Clanfield's study has called for 'immediate governmental action' raising the age limit to protect children and match other states. In Queensland, children aged 12 to 15 are allowed to ride e-scooters if they are supervised by an adult riding alongside them on another device. Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory are the only jurisdictions that allow 12-year-olds to legally ride e-scooters. In New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania e-scooter users must be aged at least 16. The age limit is 18 in the Northern Territory and South Australia, according to Assoc Prof Terry Slevin, the CEO of the Public Health Association of Australia. E-scooter accidents are a 'growing problem', Slevin said. But a lack of national data to identify the size of the problem and no nationally consistent rules or enforcement of those laws make it a difficult problem to solve, he said. A University of Melbourne researcher, Assoc Prof Milad Haghani, searched local news stories published between January 2020 and April 2025 to gather data on e-scooter related deaths. He identified 30 fatalities. Of those, 11 were aged under 18. Slevin said a serious problem was that children did not have a sophisticated understanding of the road rules or road safety. However, he said e-scooters were also a 'general community safety issue' because other road, footpath and cycle path users could be struck by e-scooters. Dr Sarah Whitelaw, the Australian Medical Association's federal emergency medicine representative, said the study reflected what was happening in other states and territories. Whitelaw said it was 'heartbreaking' when injured patients and their families said 'they had no idea that they could get so badly injured on an e-scooter'. 'Emergency care and trauma specialists right around Australia are increasingly concerned about the number of injuries that we're seeing with regards to children under 18,' she said. Children were 'massively over-represented' in cases of e-scooter injuries and deaths, despite e-scooters being mostly ridden by adults. Part of the problem, Whitelaw said, was that 'these devices are unfortunately marketed to kids … [and] it's not clear to parents that, in fact, in many states and territories, it's illegal to ride them outside your home on public property unless you're over 16'. She said rather than banning e-scooters, governments should improve safety laws.
ABC News
01-06-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Getting COVID booster alongside flu shot could reduce hospitalisations, study finds
As winter begins, a new study has found that getting a COVID-19 booster at the same time as the flu vaccination could reduce the rate of hospital admissions for coronavirus. In a study published in the Medical Journal of Australia, Burnet Institute researchers found that offering COVID-19 vaccination boosters alongside the flu shot could reduce the hospital admission rate for COVID-19 by up to 14 per cent. It comes amid a renewed push by experts for Australians to get the COVID-19 booster as the NB. 1.8.1 variant has driven up infections. Researchers used mathematical models to compare scenarios where COVID-19 vaccines were delivered at different times of the year. The results showed that even though COVID-19 was not seasonal like influenza, increasing COVID-19 booster rates by offering them at the same time as the influenza vaccine was still likely to be an effective public health strategy. In the last six months, there have been 1.3 million doses of COVID boosters administered to people aged 18 years and over. Experts have been proactive in their push for higher vaccination rates. Among them is Burnet Institute head of modelling and biostatistics, and co-author of the study, Associate professor Nick Scott. He said offering both vaccinations at the same time could also be a simple way to increase vaccination coverage. "By offering a COVID-19 booster vaccination alongside the annual influenza vaccination, we could aim to achieve similar vaccination coverage for COVID-19 as influenza, which would make a meaningful difference in reducing hospital admissions and deaths," he said. Another of the study's co-authors, mathematical modeller Fenella McAndrew, said the research showed that getting vaccinated at any time against COVID-19 was a benefit, so it made sense to receive both vaccinations together. "Unlike influenza, COVID-19 doesn't have a well-defined season, and when we modelled different scenarios, the percentage of people receiving booster vaccinations was more important than the timing of the vaccination," she said. With such a reliable vaccine available for COVID-19, it makes sense for people to receive regular booster vaccinations to protect themselves, she added. COVID-19 infection can lead to serious illness that can impact every system in the body, leading to a variety of health concerns including cognitive decline, immune system damage, liver impairment, kidney disease and reduced lung function. It can also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The Australian government recommends COVID-19 booster vaccinations every 12 months for healthy adults between the ages of 18-64 without any risk factors. Older Australians, aged 75 and older, without any risk factors are advised to receive a booster vaccination every six months. According to the Department of Health, regular COVID-19 vaccinations are the best way to maintain your protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19. They are especially important for anyone aged 65 years or older and people at higher risk of severe COVID-19.
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
What are the early signs of bowel cancer? And how can young Australians get tested for it?
Australia is in the unenviable position of having the highest rates of bowel cancer in people under 50 in the world. The perception it is an 'older person's disease' is being overturned. Rates in those over 50 have declined in Australia, while early-onset cases in people under 50 are rising by up to 8% a year. It is the deadliest cancer for Australians aged 25 to 44, and the risk of being diagnosed in Australia under the age of 40 has more than doubled since 2000. Experts say they still do not know what has prompted Australians born in the 1990s to be diagnosed at three times the rate of those born in the 1950s. Nevertheless, they say it's important to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms among young people which are often easily dismissed. The most common signs and symptoms of early-onset bowel cancer are blood in the stool, abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits and unexplained weight loss. Bowel Cancer Australia says people should not delay talking to their GP if they are experiencing any of these symptoms for two weeks or more – when diagnosed early, almost 99% of cases can be successfully treated. Although many of the symptoms are common to multiple health concerns, Bowel Cancer Australia urges people not to accept 'you're too young to have bowel cancer' as an explanation for symptoms, and to ask for further investigations. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email A colorectal surgeon and Bowel Cancer Australia's medical director, Associate Prof Graham Newstead, says some people experience no symptoms. The most obvious symptoms tend to emerge as the growth in the bowel from polyp to cancer becomes large enough to partially block the bowel. Thisresults in a change in bowel habit 'that's more than the dinner you ate last night upsetting you'. There are key barriers to early detection – a lack of symptom awareness and stigma among them. Bowel Cancer Australia's chief executive, Julien Wiggins, says the organisation has tried to overcome people's 'taboo around checking their poo'by partnering with Kleenex to create a roll that reminds them to do so. Screening is able to detect small amounts of blood in the stool which has leaked from growths in the bowel – even if you can't see it yourself. The government's national screening program sends at-home test kits to in the mail to every Australian every two years starting from age 50. That runs up until age 74. Since July 2024, 45- to 49-year-olds can opt in to request the test for free, and then will start receiving it every two years. People aged 40 to 44 can go to their GP and request a test. For people under 40, tests have to be bought out of pocket but Bowel Cancer Australia is advocating for lowering the screening age in response to the increasing rates of bowel cancer in younger people. If a test comes back positive, or people notice any other symptoms such as a lump or swelling in the abdomen or extreme tiredness for no reason, they should follow up with a GP who can refer them to get a colonoscopy. Age, family history, hereditary conditions and personal health history can all influence bowel cancer risk – they're known as 'non-modifiable' risk factors because they cannot be changed. There are also modifiable risk factors which can be controlled, including diet and lifestyle choices, as well as screening and surveillance. Alcohol, smoking, eating too much red meat or processed meats and having increased body fat are known to increase risk. One study of more than 540,000 women has found that each 20g of alcohol a day – about the amount found in a large glass of wine – was linked to a 15% higher risk of bowel cancer, while each 30g of red and processed meat a day was linked to an 8% increase in risk of the disease. That same study found each daily 300mg of calcium, about the amount found in half a pint of milk, was associated with a 17% lower risk of bowel cancer – the same decrease Bowel Cancer Australia says is associated with eating at least 90g of wholegrains a day, such as brown rice or wholemeal bread. Recreational physical activity can reduce risk of colon (not rectal) cancer by 16%. Bowel Cancer Australia recommends including dairy products such as low-fat milk, yoghurt and cheese in your daily diet, or considering calcium supplements if you are lactose-intolerant, as well as filling two-thirds or more of your plate with wholegrains, vegetables, fruits, beans and nuts to get more dietary fibre.
ABC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
Medicinal cannabis prescribing practices under scrutiny
Medicinal cannabis access in Australia was hard won by high profile lobbyists seeking to help terminally and chronically ill patients as an option of last resort. Now it's become big business with record numbers of scripts being written by doctors working for a growing number of telehealth companies. A 7.30 investigation has found some are being pressured to prescribe. National Health Reporter Elise Worthington and producer Emily Jane Smith have this exclusive report.
