Phase-Specific Healthcare Costs Associated With Giant Cell Arteritis in Ontario, Canada.

Objective: To estimate the additional healthcare system costs associated with giant cell arteritis (GCA) in the 1-year prediagnosis and postdiagnosis periods and over long-term follow-up compared to individuals with similar demographics and comorbidities without GCA.

Methods: We performed a population-based study using health administrative data. Newly diagnosed cases of GCA (between 2002 and 2017 and aged ≥ 66 years) were identified using a validated algorithm and matched 1:6 to comparators using propensity scores.

Impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on equity of access to hip and knee replacements: a population-level study.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic had innumerable impacts on healthcare delivery. In Canada, this included limitations on inpatient capacity, which resulted in an increased focus on outpatient surgery for non-emergent cases such as joint replacements. The objective of this study was to assess whether the pandemic and the shift towards outpatient surgery had an impact on access to joint replacement for marginalized patients.

Impact of a Transitional Pain Service on postoperative opioid trajectories: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: It has been well described that a small but significant proportion of patients continue to use opioids months after surgical discharge. We sought to evaluate postdischarge opioid use of patients who were seen by a Transitional Pain Service compared with controls.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data of individuals who underwent surgery in Ontario, Canada from 2014 to 2018.

Low Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir Use Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Signal of Concern.

Individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may be at increased risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir has been shown to reduce the risk for hospitalization and death among patients with COVID-19 at risk for progression to severe disease..

Surgical Outcomes between Routes of Hysterectomy in Patients with a Previous Cesarean Section.

Study Objective: To determine the difference in surgical complications for patients with a previous cesarean section (CS) undergoing abdominal, vaginal, or laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Design: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Province of Ontario, Canada.

Using Real-World Data to Determine Health System Costs of Ontario Women Screened for Breast Cancer.

Our study was to determine breast cancer screening costs in Ontario, Canada for screenings conducted through a formal (Ontario Breast Screening Program, OBSP) and informal (non-OBSP) screening program using administrative databases. Included women were 49-74 years of age when receiving screening mammograms between 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2019. Each woman was followed for a screening episode with screening and diagnostic components, and costs were calculated as an average cost per woman per month in 2021 Canadian dollars.

High prevalence of comorbidities at diagnosis in immigrants with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with certain comorbidities in general population studies, but it is unknown how comorbidity may affect immigrants with MS.

Objective: To compare prevalence of comorbidities in immigrants and long-term residents at MS diagnosis, and in matched control populations without MS.

Methods: We identified incident MS cases using a validated definition applied to health administrative data in Ontario, Canada, from 1994 to 2017, and categorized them as immigrants or long-term residents.

Increased Mortality for Individuals With Giant Cell Arteritis: A Population-Based Study.

Objective: Reports of mortality risks among individuals with giant cell arteritis (GCA) have been mixed. Our aim was to evaluate all-cause mortality among individuals with GCA relative to the general population over time.

Methods: We performed a population-based study in Ontario, Canada using health administrative data.

Feminization of the Rheumatology Workforce: A Longitudinal Evaluation of Patient Volumes, Practice Sizes, and Physician Remuneration.

Objective: To compare differences in clinical activity and remuneration between male and female rheumatologists and to evaluate associations between physician gender and practice sizes and patient volume, accounting for rheumatologists' age, and calendar year effects.

Methods: We conducted a population-based study in Ontario, Canada, between 2000 to 2015 identifying all rheumatologists practicing as full-time equivalents (FTEs) or above and assessed differences in practice sizes (number of unique patients), practice volumes (number of patient visits), and remuneration (total fee-for-service billings) between male and female rheumatologists. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate the effects of gender on practice size and volume separately, accounting for age and year.

Validation of canadian health administrative data algorithms for estimating trends in the incidence and prevalence of osteoarthritis.

Objective: To estimate the 1) accuracy of algorithms for identifying osteoarthritis (OA) using health administrative data; and 2) population-level OA prevalence and incidence over time in Ontario, Canada.

Method: We performed a retrospective chart abstraction study to identify OA patients in a random sample of 7500 primary care patients from electronic medical records. The validation sample was linked with several administrative data sources.

Management of Sleep Disorders in Community-Dwelling Older Women and Men at the Time of Diagnosis.

Objectives: Sedative and hypnotic medications are associated with harm, and guidelines suggest limiting their use. Only limited evidence has described how older adults are managed following an initial sleep disorder diagnosis. We aimed to describe clinical management patterns of sleep disorders in older women and men at the time of initial diagnosis.

Assessing the impacts of minimum legal drinking age laws on police-reported violent victimization in Canada from 2009 to 2013.

Background/aim: Given that alcohol-related victimization is highly prevalent among young adults, the current study aimed to assess the potential impacts of Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws on police-reported violent victimization events among young people.

Design: A regression-discontinuity (RD) approach was applied to victimization data from the Canadian Uniform Crime Reporting 2 (UCR2) Incident-based survey from 2009-2013. Participants/cases: All police-reported violent victimization events (females: n = 178,566; males: n = 156,803) among youth aged 14-22 years in Canada.

Comparative hazards of acute myocardial infarction among hospitalized patients with methamphetamine- or cocaine-use disorders: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: It is assumed that recreational use of methamphetamine can trigger acute myocardial infarction (AMI) events, but estimates of longitudinal hazards of AMI among methamphetamine users are lacking.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study: Competing-risks analysis was used to estimate time-to-AMI patterns in methamphetamine versus matched appendicitis (population-proxy) and matched cocaine (drug-control) groups. Cohorts were propensity-score-matched using demographic and clinical variables.

Impacts of Canada's minimum age for tobacco sales (MATS) laws on youth smoking behaviour, 2000-2014.

Background: Recently, the US Institute of Medicine has proposed that raising the minimum age for tobacco purchasing/sales to 21 years would likely lead to reductions in smoking behavior among young people. Surprisingly few studies, however, have assessed the potential impacts of minimum-age tobacco restrictions on youth smoking.

Objective: To estimate the impacts of Canadian minimum age for tobacco sales (MATS) laws on youth smoking behaviour.

Assessing the impacts of Saskatchewan's minimum alcohol pricing regulations on alcohol-related crime.

Introduction: Saskatchewan's introduction in April 2010 of minimum prices graded by alcohol strength led to an average minimum price increase of 9.1% per Canadian standard drink (=13.45 g ethanol).

The Impact of Drinking Age Laws on Perpetration of Sexual Assault Crimes in Canada, 2009-2013.

Purpose: Sexual-assault crimes, primarily perpetrated by males against female victims, impose a substantial burden on societies worldwide, especially on youth. Given that approximately half of all sexual assaults involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator or victim, it is reasonable to expect that minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) restrictions might have an effect on sexual-assault patterns. Canadian MLDA laws are 18 years in Quebec, Alberta, and Manitoba (MLDA-18), and 19 years in the rest of the country (MLDA-19).

The prominence of smoking-related mortality among individuals with alcohol- or drug-use disorders.

Introduction And Aims: Even though individuals with substance-use disorders have a high prevalence of tobacco smoking, surprisingly little is known about smoking-related mortality in these populations. The current retrospective cohort study aims to address this gap.

Design And Methods: The study sample included cohorts of individuals hospitalised in California between 1990 and 2005 with alcohol- (n = 509 422), cocaine- (n = 35 276), opioid- (n = 53 172), marijuana- (n = 15 995) or methamphetamine-use (n = 36 717) disorders.

Do drinking-age laws have an impact on crime? Evidence from Canada, 2009-2013.

Background: International debate is ongoing about the effectiveness of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws. In Canada, the MLDA is 18 years of age in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec, and 19 in the rest of the country. Surprisingly few prior studies have examined the potential impacts of MLDA legislation on crime, and the current study addresses this gap.

Release from drinking-age restrictions is associated with increases in alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions among young drivers in Canada.

Background: Alcohol-related motor vehicle collisions (MVCs) are a key concern in current international debates about the effectiveness of minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) laws, but the majority of this literature is based on natural experiments involving MLDA changes occurring 2-4 decades ago.

Methods: A regression-discontinuity approach was used to estimate the relation between Canadian drinking-age laws and population-based alcohol-related MVCs (n=50,233) among drivers aged 15-23years in Canada.

Results: In comparison to male drivers slightly younger than the MLDA, those just older had immediate and abrupt increases in alcohol-related MVCs of 40.

Impacts of drinking-age legislation on alcohol-impaired driving crimes among young people in Canada, 2009-13.

Background And Aim: In Canada, the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) is 18 years in Alberta, Manitoba and Québec and 19 in the rest of the country. Given that public health organizations have not only recommended increasing the MLDA to 19 years, but also have identified 21 years as ideal, the current study tested whether drivers slightly older than the MLDA had significant and abrupt increases in alcohol-impaired driving (AID) crimes, compared with their counterparts just younger than the MLDA.

Design: Regression-discontinuity approach.

Impacts of the minimum legal drinking age on motor vehicle collisions in Québec, 2000-2012.

Background: International debates are occurring about the effectiveness of minimum legal drinking age laws. Most minimum legal drinking age evaluation studies have focused on motor vehicle collision outcomes, but this literature is primarily based on naturalistic experiments involving legislation changes in the U.S.