Estimating the Impact of Delayed Access to Oncology Drugs on Patient Outcomes in Canada.

Introduction: New requirements in Canada's pricing processes for patented drugs may exacerbate delays in regulatory and reimbursement reviews. This study seeks to better understand the impact of any additional delays on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by measuring the following: (a) durations and outcomes of regulatory and reimbursement reviews of NSCLC drugs in Canada and reference countries; (b) delays in Canada's reviews of three NSCLC drugs (nivolumab, afatinib, and pemetrexed [NAP]); and (c) estimating clinical, patient, and economic impacts of delays in Canada's reviews on access to NAP.

Methods: Information from the Context Matters database and the literature (2005-2020) was used to evaluate the durations and outcomes of reimbursement reviews of NSCLC drugs in Canada and comparator countries.

Increasing Prevalence and Incidence of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Adult Patients in Ontario, Canada From 2002 to 2018.

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the second-leading cause of death in Canada. However, limited data are available on the prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in Canada. The study objective was to describe the incidence and prevalence of ASCVD in adult patients in Ontario, Canada, and to evaluate temporal trends for subsequent ASCVD events among those with new-onset ASCVD.

New View on the Canadian Burden of Stroke: Productivity Loss in Adults Who Return to Work.

An often overlooked facet of the indirect costs affecting working-age stroke survivors is the challenges experienced by those who return to work. This study quantified the productivity loss in 20 stroke survivors who returned to work which amounted to 53.0 missed work days and an average indirect cost of $10,298 (CAD) in the year following a stroke.

Treatment and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Management in Patients Diagnosed With Clinical Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Alberta.

Background: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is an important indicator in the development and management of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Herein, we describe the management of LDL-C with lipid-lowering therapy, among patients diagnosed with clinical ASCVD in Alberta, Canada.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted by linking multiple health system databases to examine clinical characteristics, treatments, and LDL-C assessments.