Statin Use and Stroke Rate in Older Adults With Atrial Fibrillation: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background Atherosclerotic disease is an important contributor to adverse outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). There is limited recognition of the association between statin use and stroke rates in AF. We aimed to quantify the association between statin use and stroke rate in AF.

Association of Neighborhood-Level Material Deprivation With Atrial Fibrillation Care in a Single-Payer Health Care System: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background: There are limited data on the association of material deprivation with clinical care and outcomes after atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosis in jurisdictions with universal health care.

Methods: This was a population-based cohort study of individuals ≥66 years of age with first diagnosis of AF between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2019, in the Canadian province of Ontario, which provides public funding and prohibits private payment for medically necessary physician and hospital services. Prescription medications are subsidized for residents >65 years of age.

Virtual care use during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on healthcare utilization in patients with chronic disease: A population-based repeated cross-sectional study.

Purpose: It is currently unclear how the shift towards virtual care during the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have impacted chronic disease management at a population level. The goals of our study were to provide a description of the levels of use of virtual care services relative to in-person care in patients with chronic disease across Ontario, Canada and to describe levels of healthcare utilization in low versus high virtual care users.

Methods: We used linked health administrative data to conduct a population-based, repeated cross-sectional study of all ambulatory patient visits in Ontario, Canada (January 1, 2018 to January 16, 2021).

The association between anticoagulation and adverse outcomes after a positive SARS-CoV-2 test among older outpatients: A population-based cohort study.

Introduction: Anticoagulation may improve outcomes in patients with COVID-19 when started early in the course of illness.

Materials And Methods: This was a population-based cohort study using linked administrative datasets of outpatients aged ≥65 years old testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 between January 1 and December 31, 2020 in Ontario, Canada. The key exposure was anticoagulation with warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants before COVID-19 diagnosis.

Association of Diabetes Duration and Glycemic Control With Stroke Rate in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Diabetes: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Background There are limited data on the association of diabetes duration and glycemic control with stroke risk in atrial fibrillation (AF). Our objective was to study the association of diabetes duration and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) with the rate of stroke in people with diabetes and newly diagnosed AF. Methods and Results This was a population-based cohort study using linked administrative data sets.

Cardiovascular Risk Associated With Ibrutinib Use in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose: Ibrutinib reduces mortality in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) and bleeding and there are concerns about heart failure (HF) and central nervous system ischemic events. The magnitude of these risks remains poorly quantified.

Using Administrative Data to Explore Potentially Aberrant Provision of Virtual Care During COVID-19: Retrospective Cohort Study of Ontario Provincial Data.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a rapid increase in virtual care use across the globe. Many health care systems have responded by creating virtual care billing codes that allow physicians to see their patients over telephone or video. This rapid liberalization of billing requirements, both in Canada and other countries, has led to concerns about potential abuse, but empirical data are limited.

Trends in Postpartum Opioid Prescribing: A Time Series Analysis.

Opioids are commonly prescribed following childbirth, but data are lacking on trends in postpartum opioid prescribing over time. We examined whether a highly publicized 2006 case report questioning the safety of codeine during lactation was associated with changes in postpartum opioid prescribing. We conducted a cross-sectional time series analysis of all publicly funded prescriptions for opioids to postpartum women in Ontario, Canada, from April 1, 2000, to March 31, 2017.

Evaluation of the Risk of Stroke Without Anticoagulation Therapy in Men and Women With Atrial Fibrillation Aged 66 to 74 Years Without Other CHA2DS2-VASc Factors.

Importance: There are limited clinical trial data and discrepant recommendations regarding use of anticoagulation therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) aged 65 to 74 years without other stroke risk factors.

Objectives: To evaluate the risk of stroke without anticoagulation therapy in men and women with AF aged 66 to 74 years without other CHA2DS2-VASc (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥75 years, diabetes, stroke, vascular disease, age 65-74 years, female sex) risk factors and examine the association of stroke incidence with patient age.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using linked administrative databases.

Rural Telemedicine Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Repeated Cross-sectional Study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a notable increase in telemedicine adoption. However, the impact of the pandemic on telemedicine use at a population level in rural and remote settings remains unclear.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate changes in the rate of telemedicine use among rural populations and identify patient characteristics associated with telemedicine use prior to and during the pandemic.

Virtual care use before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a repeated cross-sectional study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is thought to have increased use of virtual care, but population-based studies are lacking. We aimed to assess the uptake of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic using comprehensive population-based data from Ontario.

Methods: This was a repeated cross-sectional study design.

Population Trends in All-Cause Mortality and Cause Specific-Death With Incident Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND Limited studies have evaluated population-level temporal trends in mortality and cause of death in patients with contemporary managed atrial fibrillation. This study reports the temporal trends in 1-year overall and cause-specific mortality in patients with incident atrial fibrillation. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with incident atrial fibrillation presenting to an emergency department or hospitalized in Ontario, Canada, were identified in population-level linked administrative databases that included data on vital statistics and cause of death.

The Association Between High and Unnecessary Antibiotic Prescribing: A Cohort Study Using Family Physician Electronic Medical Records.

Background: Approximately 25% of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions are unnecessary among family physicians in Canada. Minimizing unnecessary antibiotics is key for community antibiotic stewardship. However, unnecessary antibiotic prescribing is much harder to measure than total antibiotic prescribing.

Tamoxifen therapy in a murine model of myotubular myopathy.

Myotubular myopathy (MTM) is a severe X-linked disease without existing therapies. Here, we show that tamoxifen ameliorates MTM-related histopathological and functional abnormalities in mice, and nearly doubles survival. The beneficial effects of tamoxifen are mediated primarily via estrogen receptor signaling, as demonstrated through in vitro studies and in vivo phenotypic rescue with estradiol.