Prescribed Drug Spending in Canada, 2019: A Focus on Public Drug Programs.

Public drug program spending accounts for 43.1% of prescribed drug spending in Canada. This report provides an in-depth look at public drug program spending in Canada, using the Canadian Institute for Health Information's (CIHI) National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System.

Further exploration of the structure-activity relationship of imidazoquinolines; identification of potent C7-substituted imidazoquinolines.

Small molecule agonists of TLR7/8, such as imidazoquinolines, are validated agonists for the treatment of cancer and for use in vaccine adjuvants. Imidazoquinolines have been extensively modified to understand the structure-activity relationship (SAR) at the N1- and C2-positions resulting in the clinical drug imiquimod, resiquimod, and several other highly potent analogues. However, the SAR of the aryl ring has not been fully elucidated in the literature.

Comparing the contribution of prescribed opioids to opioid-related hospitalizations across Canada: A multi-jurisdictional cross-sectional study.

Background: The Canadian opioid crisis is a complex, multifaceted problem involving prescribed, diverted and illicitly manufactured opioids. This study sought to characterize the contribution of prescribed opioids to opioid-related hospitalizations in Canada.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of all individuals who were admitted to hospital for opioid toxicity in British Columbia (BC), Manitoba and Ontario between April 2015 and March 2016.

Frequency and cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing for older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Many medications pose greater health risks when prescribed for older adults, compared with available pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic alternatives. We sought to quantify the frequency and cost of potentially inappropriate prescribing for older women and men in Canada.

Methods: Using data for 2013 from the National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System database, which contains prescription claims from publicly financed drug plans in all provinces except for Quebec, we identified the frequency of prescribing and cost of potentially inappropriate medications dispensed to provincial drug plan enrollees aged 65 years or more.

Palladium Catalysis Enables Benzylation of α,α-Difluoroketone Enolates.

A palladium-catalyzed decarboxylative benzylation reaction of α,α-difluoroketone enolates is reported, in which the key C(α)-C(sp(3) ) bond is generated by reductive elimination from a palladium intermediate. The transformation provides convergent access to α-benzyl-α,α-difluoroketone-based products, and should be useful for accessing biological probes.

The Canadian National System for Incident Reporting in Radiation Treatment (NSIR-RT) Taxonomy.

Purpose: Incident investigation, reporting, and learning are core elements of quality improvement in radiation treatment. This report describes the development of a Canadian National System for Incident Reporting in Radiation Treatment (NSIR-RT), focusing especially on the taxonomy.

Methods And Materials: The NSIR-RT was developed to provide a framework in Canada for reporting and analyzing radiation treatment incidents.

Drug Use among Seniors on Public Drug Programs in Canada, 2012.

Seniors take more drugs than younger Canadians because, on average, they have a higher number of chronic conditions. Although taking multiple medications may be necessary to manage these conditions, it is important to consider the benefits and risks of each medication and the therapeutic goals of the patient. This article provides an in-depth look at the number and types of drugs used by seniors using drug claims data from the CIHI's National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System Database, representing approximately 70% of seniors in Canada.

Public Drug Coverage and Its Impact on Triptan Use Across Canada: A Population-Based Study.

Background: Public drug coverage for triptan medications varies across jurisdictions in Canada, which may lead to differences in usage patterns and patient risk for medication overuse headache.

Methods: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional analysis of publicly funded triptan use in seven provinces across Canada from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. All patients who had filled at least one prescription for a triptan during the study period were included.

Medication use among Canadian seniors.

As they age, many seniors develop a progressively more complex mix of health conditions. Multiple prescription medications are often required to help manage these conditions and control symptoms, with the goal of maintaining seniors' health for as long as possible. This article explores trends in the number and types of medications used by seniors on public drug programs in Canada.