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Canada National and Provincial Cataract Surgery Wait Times (2017-2021): A Targeted Literature Review
Value in Health ; 25(7):S318-S319, 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1926719
ABSTRACT

Objectives:

Pan-Canadian benchmark for cataract surgery wait times is 16 weeks, with aim for 90% of patients to meet this target timeframe. A targeted literature review was conducted to assess recent trends of Canada’s cataract surgery wait times, including impact of COVID-19.

Methods:

PubMed was searched January 1, 2017–December 10, 2021, and supplemented by grey literature search. Search terms included cataract surgery, wait times, epidemiology, Canada, and COVID-19. Inclusion criteria comprised of literature reporting national and provincial (Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta) data with outcomes of interest percentage of patients treated within 16-week benchmark, 90th percentile wait time (10% waited >x weeks), and 50th percentile/median wait time (half waited >x weeks).

Results:

Published data from 8 unique sources were included (n=3 white papers, n=5 government data). Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) reported percentage of patients treated within 16 weeks nationally (2017=71%, 2018=70%, 2019=71%, 2020=45%) and by province (Ontario 2017=69%, 2020=40%;Quebec 2017=85%, 2020=53%;British Columbia 2017=63%, 2020=53%;Alberta 2017=56%, 2020=34%). Five sources reported 90th percentile CIHI national data showed 10% waited >30.0-31.0 weeks from 2017–2019, and >44.0 weeks in 2020;for Ontario in 2018, 10% waited >28.9 weeks, according to the Eye Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario;provincial government data showed similar results for Alberta (2017–2018=>38.6, 2020–2021=>41.0-63.0) and British Columbia (2021=>27.9). Median wait times (weeks) were reported by 5 sources, with similar national results by CIHI and OECD (2017–2019=9.3-9.6, 2020=18.9);Fraser Institute also reported 2020 national (20.6 [12.0-64.0]) and provincial (Ontario=17.0, Quebec=12.0, British Columbia=28.0, Alberta=24.0) data.

Conclusions:

Approximately 30% of patients experienced a wait longer than the 16-week pan-Canadian benchmark from 2017–2019, growing to 55% in 2020 amidst COVID-19. To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and bring wait times to the recommended threshold, collaboration among provincial health authorities and clinicians may be necessary with prioritization of stable funding and reimbursement for cataract surgery.
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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Reviews Language: English Journal: Value in Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Reviews Language: English Journal: Value in Health Year: 2022 Document Type: Article