Prevalence and patterns of multimorbidity among linguistic groups of patients receiving home care in Ontario: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Prior studies have demonstrated the negative impact of language barriers on access, quality, and safety of healthcare, which can lead to health disparities in linguistic minorities. As the population ages, those with multiple chronic diseases will require increasing levels of home care and long-term services. This study described the levels of multimorbidity among recipients of home care in Ontario, Canada by linguistic group. METHODS: Population-based retrospective cohort of 510,685 adults receiving home care between April 1, 2010, to March 31, 2018, in Ontario, Canada. We estimated and compared prevalence and characteristics of multimorbidity (2 or more chronic diseases) across linguistic groups (Francophones, Anglophones, Allophones). The most common combinations and clustering of chronic diseases were examined. Logistic regression models were used to explore the main predictors of 'severe' multimorbidity (defined as the presence of five or more chronic diseases). RESULTS: The proportion of home care recipients with multimorbidity and severe multimorbidity was 92% and 44%, respectively. The prevalence of multimorbidity was slightly higher among Allophones (93.6%) than among Anglophones (91.8%) and Francophones (92.4%). However, Francophones had higher rates of cardiovascular and respiratory disease (64.9%) when compared to Anglophones (60.2%) and Allophones (61.5%), while Anglophones had higher rates of cancer (34.2%) when compared to Francophones (25.2%) and Allophones (24.3%). Relative to Anglophones, Allophones were more likely to have severe multimorbidity (adjusted OR = 1.04, [95% CI: 1.02-1.06]). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of multimorbidity among Ontarians receiving home care services is high; especially for whose primary language is a language other than English or French (i.e., Allophones). Understanding differences in the prevalence and characteristics of multimorbidity across linguistic groups will help tailor healthcare services to the unique needs of patients living in minority linguistic situations.

Cutaneous candidiasis mimicking acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis: A case report.

Disseminated cutaneous candidiasis is a rare manifestation of candidiasis that arises most commonly from Candida albicans. It is described as a widespread erythematous papulopustular skin infection that typically affects premature newborns or immunocompromised patients. While candidal infections usually respond well to antifungal therapy, the clinical presentation of disseminated cutaneous candidiasis can often mimic a variety of other dermatologic conditions, that can lead to delayed diagnosis and treatment. We present a 67-year-old comorbid male patient with widespread erythema and superficial pustules resembling acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) that was actually an unexpected manifestation of disseminated cutaneous candidiasis. Prompt initiation of a topical and oral antifungal regimen contributed to marked improvement. Given the high frequency of drug eruptions in comorbid patients receiving multiple medications, alternate diagnoses like infections should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Mitigating the Denosumab-Induced Rebound Phenomenon with Alternating Short- and Long-Acting Anti-resorptive Therapy in a Young Boy with Severe OI Type VI.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) type VI, a recessively inherited form of OI caused by mutations in SERPINF1, is a severe form distinguished by osteomalacia on bone histomorphometry. We describe a boy with severe OI type VI who was initially treated with intravenous (IV) zoledronic acid (ZA) at 1.4 years of age; however, a year later he transitioned to denosumab 1 mg/kg sub-cutaneously every three months in an effort to decrease fracture rates. After two years on denosumab, he presented with symptomatic hypercalcemia due to the denosumab-induced, hyper-resorptive rebound phenomenon. Laboratory parameters at the time of the rebound were as follows: elevated serum ionized calcium (1.62 mmol/L, N 1.16-1.36), elevated serum creatinine due to hypercalcemia-induced muscle catabolism (83 µmol/L, N 9-55), and suppressed parathyroid hormone (PTH) (< 0.7 pmol/L, N 1.3-5.8). The hypercalcemia was responsive to low-dose IV pamidronate, with a rapid decline in serum ionized calcium, and otherwise normalization of the aforementioned parameters within 10 days. To benefit from the powerful, albeit short-term, anti-resorptive effect of denosumab without further rebound episodes, he was treated thereafter with denosumab 1 mg/kg alternating every three months with IV ZA 0.025 mg/kg. Five years later, he remained on dual alternating anti-resorptive therapy without further rebound episodes, and an overall improvement in his clinical status. This novel pharmacological approach of alternating short- and long-term anti-resorptive therapy every three months has not previously been described. Our report suggests this strategy may be an effective method for prevention of the rebound phenomenon in select children for whom denosumab may be beneficial.

The availability and distribution of vaping retailers across Ontario neighbourhoods, 2016-2019.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the distribution of vaping retailers and examine the association between neighbourhood income and vaping retailer availability in Ontario prior to and after regulatory changes to the vaping market in 2018. METHODS: We quantified vaping access by number of vaping retailers for 19,964 dissemination areas (DAs) in Ontario and percentage of schools near a vaping retailer. We used mixed-effects regression models to examine the associations between vaping access and neighbourhood income in 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: Between 2016 and 2019, the number of vaping retailers in Ontario increased by 22.6% (5999 to 7355), despite a mild drop from 2016 to 2018. In 2019, 59.7% of urban neighbourhoods had one or more vaping retailers within 1000 m of their geographic centre, and 79.4% of elementary, 82.8% of secondary, and 84.2% of post-secondary schools had at least one within 1000 m. Neighbourhood income was associated with access to vaping retailers, with a greater number in low-income regions. In 2019, neighbourhoods in the lowest income quintile had over twice the number of vaping retailers per capita within 1000 m compared to the highest income quintile (adjusted incidence rate ratio 2.40; 95% CI 2.24-2.58). Increases over time in access to vaping retailers did not differ by geographic region, neighbourhood income quintile, or school type. CONCLUSION: We observed a substantial increase in access to vaping retailers in Ontario including proximity to elementary and secondary schools following the 2018 provincial marketing regulations and federal nicotine regulations. Access to vaping was greatest in low-income neighbourhoods and may contribute to established inequities in vaping-related adverse events.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Caractériser la répartition des détaillants de vapotage et examiner l'association entre le revenu du quartier et la disponibilité des détaillants de vapotage en Ontario avant et après les modifications réglementaires du marché du vapotage en 2018. MéTHODES: Nous avons quantifié l'accès au vapotage selon le nombre de détaillants de vapotage pour 19 964 aires de diffusion (DA) en Ontario et le pourcentage d'écoles à proximité d'un détaillant de vapotage. Nous avons utilisé des modèles de régression à effets mixtes pour examiner les associations entre l'accès au vapotage et le revenu du quartier en 2018 et 2019. RéSULTATS: Entre 2016 et 2019, le nombre de détaillants de vapotage en Ontario a augmenté de 22,6 % (5 999 à 7 355), malgré une légère baisse de 2016 à 2018. En 2019, 59,7 % des quartiers urbains avaient un ou plusieurs détaillants de vapotage à moins de 1 000 m de leur centre géographique, et 79,4 % des écoles élémentaires, 82,8 % des écoles secondaires et 84,2 % des écoles postsecondaires en avaient au moins un détaillant à moins de 1 000 m. Le revenu du quartier était associé à l'accès aux détaillants, avec plus de détaillants dans les régions à faible revenu. En 2019, les quartiers du quintile de revenu le plus bas comptaient plus de deux fois plus de détaillants de vapotage par habitant dans un rayon de 1 000 m par rapport au quintile le plus élevé (rapport de taux d'incidence ajusté 2,40; IC à 95 % 2,24-2,58). Les augmentations au fil du temps de l'accès aux détaillants de vapotage ne différaient pas selon la région géographique, le quintile de revenu du quartier ou le type d'école. CONCLUSION: Nous avons observé une augmentation significative de l'accès aux détaillants de vapotage en Ontario, y compris la proximité des écoles primaires et secondaires à la suite des nouvelles réglementations provinciales sur le marketing et de la réglementation fédérale sur la nicotine en 2018. L'accès au vapotage était le plus élevé dans les quartiers à faible revenu et pourrait contribuer aux inégalités par rapport aux événements indésirables lié au vapotage et tabac.

Fast food consumption in adults living in Canada: alternative measurement methods, consumption choices, and correlates.

Global industries and technological advancements have contributed to the proliferation of fast food (FF) establishments and ultraprocessed food, associated with poorer diet quality and health outcomes. To investigate FF as an indicator, we compared alternative methods to capture self-reported FF consumption and examined associated socio-demographic factors. We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2014-2015 Foodbook study, a cross-sectional survey on foods consumed by Canadians during the previous week. An embedded randomized design compared alternative FF intake questions of varying details. A total of 6062 participants aged 18+ were included, representing 24.7 million Canadian adults. Approximately 48% consumed FF in the past week, and of FF consumers, average frequency was twice. Asking broadly about FF intake without examples resulted in significantly lower reported FF intake compared with the two more detailed questions; the latter two were not significantly different. Burgers, pizza, and submarines/sandwiches were most commonly consumed. Men, younger age, higher BMI, women in central Canada (versus territorial regions), and men with income $30 000-$80 000 (versus >$80 000) were associated with higher FF consumption. Consumption of FF is common among Canadians; some associated factors are gender-specific. Further research examining FF as an indicator, and individual and societal implications of FF consumption, is recommended to inform programs and policies.

Patient-physician language concordance and quality and safety outcomes among frail home care recipients admitted to hospital in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: When patients and physicians speak the same language, it may improve the quality and safety of care delivered. We sought to determine whether patient-physician language concordance is associated with in-hospital and postdischarge outcomes among home care recipients who were admitted to hospital. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study of a retrospective cohort of 189 690 home care recipients who were admitted to hospital in Ontario, Canada, between 2010 and 2018. We defined patient language (obtained from home care assessments) as English (Anglophone), French (Francophone) or other (allophone). We obtained physician language from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. We defined hospital admissions as language concordant when patients received more than 50% of their care from physicians who spoke the patients' primary language. We identified in-hospital (adverse events, length of stay, death) and post-discharge outcomes (emergency department visits, readmissions, death within 30 days of discharge). We used regression analyses to estimate the adjusted rate of mean and the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of each outcome, stratified by patient language, to assess the impact of language-concordant care within each linguistic group. RESULTS: Allophone patients who received language-concordant care had lower risk of adverse events (adjusted OR 0.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15-0.43) and in-hospital death (adjusted OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.29-0.66), as well as shorter stays in hospital (adjusted rate of mean 0.74, 95% CI 0.66-0.83) than allophone patients who received language-discordant care. Results were similar for Francophone patients, although the magnitude of the effect was smaller than for allophone patients. Language concordance or discordance of the hospital admission was not associated with significant differences in postdischarge outcomes. INTERPRETATION: Patients who received most of their care from physicians who spoke the patients' primary language had better in-hospital outcomes, suggesting that disparities across linguistic groups could be mitigated by providing patients with language-concordant care.

The Impact of Language on Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Length of Stay Among Home Care Recipients.

BACKGROUND: Research considering the impact of language on health care utilization is limited. We conducted a population-based study to: (1) investigate the association between residents' preferred language and hospital-based health care utilization; and (2) determine whether this association is modified by dementia, a condition which can exacerbate communication barriers. METHODS: We used administrative databases to establish a retrospective cohort study of home care recipients (2015-2017) in Ontario, Canada, where the predominant language is English. Residents' preferred language (obtained from in-person home care assessments) was coded as English (Anglophones), French (Francophones), or other (Allophones). Diagnoses of dementia were ascertained with a previously validated algorithm. We identified all emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations within 1 year. RESULTS: Compared with Anglophones, Allophones had lower annual rates of ED visits (1.3 vs. 1.8; P<0.01) and hospitalizations (0.6 vs. 0.7; P<0.01), while Francophones had longer hospital stays (9.1 vs. 7.6 d per admission; P<0.01). After adjusting for potential confounders, Francophones and Allophones were less likely to visit the ED or be hospitalized than Anglophones. We found evidence of synergism between language and dementia; the average length of stay for Francophones with dementia was 25% (95% confidence interval: 1.10-1.39) longer when compared with Anglophones without dementia. CONCLUSIONS: Residents whose preferred language was not English were less frequent users of hospital-based health care services, a finding that is likely attributable to cultural factors. Francophones with dementia experienced the longest stays in hospital. This may be related to the geographic distribution of Francophones (predominantly in rural areas) or to suboptimal patient-provider communication.

Examining the diversity of ultra-processed food consumption and associated factors in Canadian adults.

Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is increasing globally at an unprecedented rate. We investigated UPF consumption among Canadian adults and associated sociodemographic and health-related factors. This study was a secondary analysis of the Foodbook study (2014-2015), which collected self-reported data on foods consumed by Canadians during a 7-day period. UPF diversity was assessed by summing the different types of UPFs consumed in the previous week to produce a diversity score. Descriptive statistics summarized UPF diversity among subgroups in Canada. Regression models identified significant associations between UPF diversity, body mass index (BMI), and sociodemographic variables. This study included 6062 participants, aged 18 years and older, representing 24.7 million Canadian adults. Almost all Canadian adults (99.0%) consumed UPFs at least once weekly. The most common UPFs consumed were chocolate, chips/pretzels, cold breakfast cereal, and fast foods. UPF diversity was greatest among men, young respondents, those with high income, and those with obesity. When controlling for potential confounders, UPF diversity for men and women was significantly associated with younger age and higher BMI; it was also associated with region for women. This study suggests UPF consumption in Canada varies across sociodemographic subgroups, but ultimately is pervasive. Further research examining potential health risks associated with UPF consumption is encouraged to inform Canadian interventions. Novelty: Almost all Canadians consume at least one type of ultra-processed food weekly. Nearly half or more Canadians consume chocolate, chips/pretzels, cold breakfast cereal, or fast food at least once weekly. Gender, age, and BMI are consistently associated with ultra-processed food diversity.

Cocreating research priorities for anorexia nervosa: The Canadian Eating Disorder Priority Setting Partnership.

OBJECTIVE: The Canadian Eating Disorder Priority Setting Partnership was established to identify and prioritize the top 10 research priorities for females, 15 years or older, with anorexia nervosa, by incorporating equal input from those with lived experience, families, and healthcare professionals. METHOD: This project, which closely followed the James Lind Alliance guidelines, solicited research priorities from the Canadian eating disorder community by means of a five-step process including use of a survey, response collation, literature checking, interim ranking survey, and in-person prioritization workshop. RESULTS: The initial survey elicited 897 priorities from 147 individuals, with almost equal representation from all three stakeholder groups. From this, 603 responses aligned with the project objectives and were collapsed into 71 broader indicative questions. Based on available systematic reviews, 18 indicative questions were removed as they were considered answered by existing literature while 8 indicative questions were added from the recommendations of the reviews. In total, 61 indicative questions were ranked in an interim ranking survey, where 21 questions were prioritized as important by at least 20% of respondents. As a final step, 28 individuals from across Canada attended the prioritization workshop to coestablish the top 10 research priorities. DISCUSSION: Top priorities were related to treatment gaps and the need for more surveillance data. This systematic methodology allowed for a transparent and collaborative approach to identifying current priorities from both the service user and provider perspective. Wide dissemination is anticipated to promote work that is of high relevance to patients, families, and clinicians.

The Short Treatment Allocation Tool for Eating Disorders: current practices in assigning patients to level of care.

OBJECTIVE: The Short Treatment Allocation Tool for Eating Disorders (STATED) is a new evidence-based algorithm developed to match patients to the most clinically appropriate and cost-effective level of care (Geller et al., 2016). The objective of this research was to examine the extent to which current practices are in alignment with STATED recommendations. METHOD: Participants were 179 healthcare professionals providing care for youth and/or adults with eating disorders. They completed an online survey and rated the extent to which three patient dimensions (medical stability, symptom severity, and readiness) were used in assigning patients to each of five levels of care. RESULTS: The majority of analyses testing a priori hypotheses based on the STATED were statistically significant (all p's < .001), in the direction of STATED recommendations. However, a strict coding scheme evaluating the extent to which ratings were fully consistent with the STATED showed inconsistency rates ranging from 17 to 55% across the five levels of care, with the greatest inconsistencies involving the use of readiness information, and the lowest involving the use of medical stability information. DISCUSSION: Although practices were generally aligned with the STATED recommendations, readiness information was used least consistently in assigning patients to level of care.

Exploring the association between eating disorders and gender dysphoria in youth.

This study reviews the overlap between eating disorders (EDs) and gender dysphoria (GD) in an adolescent population. A retrospective chart review was conducted on a clinical population presenting for concerns of GD. It was noted that five of the 97 patients had been found to be suffering from an ED at presentation. An additional 10 patients were noted to have ED-related symptoms. Although ED risk was elevated in trans males and females, absolute risk was higher in trans males when compared to population based prevalence rates. Our results suggest that rates of EDs and ED-related symptoms are high in patients presenting with GD, and that standard screening for these symptoms should be considered in both populations at assessment and over the course of treatment.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Family Physician Gender and Quality of Care: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Studies evaluating primary care quality across physician gender are limited to primary and secondary prevention. OBJECTIVES: Investigate the relationship between family physician gender and quality of primary care using indicators that cover 5 key dimensions of primary care. RESEARCH DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis using linked health administrative datasets (April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010). SUBJECTS: All family physicians working in the 3 main primary care models in the province of Ontario (Canada), providing general care and having a panel size >1200. MEASURES: Indicators of cancer screening (3), chronic disease management (9), continuity (2), comprehensiveness (2), and access (5). RESULTS: A total of 4195 physicians (31% female) were eligible. Adjusting for provider and patient factors, patients of female physicians were more likely to have received recommended cancer screening (odds ratios [95% confidence interval (CI)] (OR) range: 1.24 [1.18-1.30], 1.85 [1.78-1.92]) and diabetes management (OR: 1.04 [1.01-1.08], 1.28 [1.05-1.57]). They had fewer emergency room visits (rate ratio [95% CI] (RR) range: 0.83 [0.79-0.87]) and hospitalizations (RR: 0.89 [0.86-0.93]), and higher referrals (RR: 1.12 [1.09-1.14]). There was evidence of effect modification by patient gender (female vs. male) for hospitalization (RR: 0.74 [0.70-0.79] vs. 0.96 [0.90-1.02]) and emergency room visits (RR: 0.84 [0.81-0.88] vs. 0.98 [0.94-1.01]). Lower emergency room visits were also more evident in more complex patients of female physicians. There were no significant differences in the continuity or comprehensiveness measures. CONCLUSIONS: The indicators assessed in this study point to a benefit for patients under the care of female physicians. Potential explanations are discussed.