"Street sweeps": The municipal government-enforced confiscation of personal belongings among unstably housed people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada.

Objectives: Street sweeps, involving the state-enforced removal of makeshift residences and confiscation of personal belongings from people in public spaces, are a common tool employed by urban governments to address public health and safety concerns. Amidst the ongoing housing and toxic drug poisoning crises in Vancouver, Canada, we sought to characterize experiences of confiscation of personal belongings by city workers among unstably-housed people who use drugs people who use drugs.

Study Design: Cohort study.

Effect of Time from Injury to Surgery on Surgical Technique and Complication Rate in Distal Biceps Tendon Repair.

Background: Surgical treatment options for distal biceps tendon ruptures vary based on time from injury to surgery. While direct repair (DR) is preferred for acute injuries, high flexion angle repair (HFA) and allograft reconstruction (AR) are alternatives for chronic cases. This study examines the relationship between time to surgery, surgical technique selection, and complication rates.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Adherence to Most Costly Chronic Disease Medications in British Columbia, Canada: A Population-Based Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

Purpose: To address limited population-level data on prescription medication taking during COVID-19, we assessed the impact of the pandemic on adherence to the costliest drug classes prescribed for chronic diseases in British Columbia (BC).

Patients And Methods: Of the 100 top drug classes contributing to total drug spending in 2020, we categorized those prescribed for chronic diseases into 26 drug groups; specifically, drugs for psychiatric and neurologic, cardiac and respiratory, hormone-related, and immune and musculoskeletal conditions. Using administrative health data on all dispensed medications, we quantified adherence by monthly proportion of days covered (PDC) and performed interrupted time-series analysis (ITS) to estimate changes in PDC trends 1-year before and after the implementation of pandemic mitigation measures.

Sex Differences in Newly Diagnosed Severe Aortic Stenosis in British Columbia (B.C.).

Background: Despite its high prevalence, little is known about the effect of sex on the management and outcomes of aortic stenosis (AS). We sought to characterize the effect of sex on the clinical evaluation for and provision of aortic valve replacement (AVR), including surgical (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and the subsequent morbidity and mortality outcomes.

Methods: A comprehensive chart review was conducted on all patients with a first diagnosis of severe aortic stenosis (AS) at Vancouver General and University of British Columbia hospitals from 2012 to 2022.

Gravida and Birth Outcomes Prior to and after Diagnosis of Early Age-Onset Colorectal Cancer among Female Patients: Population-Based Epidemiologic Studies.

Background: Early age-onset colorectal cancer (EAO-CRC) strikes during the reproductive years, yet pregnancies before and after diagnosis have not been thoroughly studied. Our objective was to comprehensively examine: (i) the relationship between gravida and EAO-CRC and (ii) the relationship between EAO-CRC and births after cancer diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a case-control and a cohort study using administrative health data from British Columbia, Canada, of females diagnosed with EAO-CRC from 2005 to 2017 and age- and sex-matched cancer-free controls.

Sexual health outcomes after colorectal cancer diagnosis in females: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) affects a growing number of females. Our objective was to evaluate the impact of CRC on sexual health outcomes among females, while controlling for age.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study using administrative health data from the province of British Columbia (BC) including linked health visits and cancer registry from 1985-2017.

Mental healthcare utilisation among individuals with colorectal cancer: population-based cohort studies.

Objective: Individuals with colorectal cancer (CRC) have an increased risk of mental disorders, yet mental healthcare utilisation has not been adequately examined. We evaluated mental healthcare utilisation and receipt of minimally adequate treatments for anxiety and/or depression among individuals with and without CRC.

Methods And Analysis: We used administrative health databases from British Columbia, Canada, comprised of individuals with CRC and individuals without CRC, matched (1:1 ratio) on age, sex and incident mental disorder(s) (ie, occurring after CRC diagnosis/matched date).

Cannabis use and illicit opioid cessation among people who use drugs living with chronic pain.

Introduction: Amidst the opioid overdose crisis, there is interest in cannabis use for pain management and harm reduction. We investigated the relationship between cannabis use and cessation of unregulated opioid use among people who use drugs (PWUD) living with chronic pain.

Method: Data for analyses were collected from three prospective cohort studies in Vancouver, Canada.

Using illicit drugs alone in Vancouver, Canada: a gender-based analysis.

Objectives: Canada continues to experience an epidemic of toxic drug-related overdose deaths. Public health messaging emphasizes the dangers of using drugs alone as it restricts timely overdose response or renders it impossible, yet this practice remains prevalent among people who use drugs. While drug use practices and associated harms are known to be highly gendered, little is known about how factors shaping solitary drug use may differ across genders (including cisgender men, cisgender women, transgender women, Two-Spirit people and gender diverse people).

Do individuals with inflammatory arthritis receive minimally adequate treatment for incident depression and anxiety: A population-based study.

Objectives: Describe patterns of pharmacotherapy and psychological treatment and evaluate receipt of minimally adequate treatment for incident depression and anxiety in individuals with inflammatory arthritis (IA).

Methods: We used population-based linked administrative health databases from British Columbia, Canada to evaluate pharmacotherapy and psychological treatments for incident depression and/or anxiety among individuals with IA and without IA ('IA-free controls'). We defined minimally adequate pharmacotherapy as antidepressant prescriptions filled with ≥ 84 days' supply and adequate psychological treatment as ≥ 4 counselling/psychotherapy services.

Incidence of and Risk of Mortality After Hip Fractures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Relative to the General Population.

Objective: Osteoporosis, a known complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), increases the risk of hip fracture, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Fracture risk estimates in patients with RA treated with contemporary treatment strategies are lacking. The objectives were (1) estimate age-specific and sex-specific incidence rates and compare the risk of hip fractures in RA relative to age-matched and sex-matched general population controls, and (2) compare the risk of all-cause mortality in RA and general population controls after hip fracture.

Patterns of Prescription Medication Use Before Diagnosis of Early Age-Onset Colorectal Cancer: Population-Based Descriptive Study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is estimated to be the fourth most common cancer diagnosis in Canada (except for nonmelanoma skin cancers) and the second and third leading cause of cancer-related death in male and female individuals, respectively.

Objective: The rising incidence of early age-onset colorectal cancer (EAO-CRC; diagnosis at less than 50 years) calls for a better understanding of patients' pathway to diagnosis. Therefore, we evaluated patterns of prescription medication use before EAO-CRC diagnosis.

Validation of machine learning models for estimation of left ventricular ejection fraction on point-of-care ultrasound: insights on features that impact performance.

Background: Machine learning (ML) algorithms can accurately estimate left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from echocardiography, but their performance on cardiac point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is not well understood.

Objectives: We evaluate the performance of an ML model for estimation of LVEF on cardiac POCUS compared with Level III echocardiographers' interpretation and formal echo reported LVEF.

Methods: Clinicians at a tertiary care heart failure clinic prospectively scanned 138 participants using hand-carried devices.

The Slip and Fall Index: Assessing the risk of slipping and falling on ice.

Objectives: Canadians are at an increased risk of outdoor slip and fall accidents during periods of ice and snow. The aim of this study was to create an index to alert the public of slippery outdoor conditions and promote pedestrian safety.

Methods: Emergency department (ED) presentations from the four adult hospitals in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, over an 11-year period (January 2008‒December 2018) were extracted and filtered using the ICD-10 code W00 (fall due to ice and snow).

Risk Factors for the Development of Persistent Scaphoid Non-Union After Surgery for an Established Non-Union.

Background: Between 2014 and 2020, candidates for scaphoid non-union (SNU) surgery were enrolled in a prospective randomized trial (Scaphoid Nonunion and Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound [SNAPU] trial) evaluating the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on postoperative scaphoid healing. At trial completion, 114/134 (85%) of these patients went on to union, and 20/134 (15%) went on to persistent SNU (PSNU). The purpose of this study was to use this prospectively gathered data to identify patient-, fracture-, and surgery-specific risk factors that may be predictive of PSNU in patients who undergo surgery for SNU.

"What Came First?" Population-Based Evaluation of Health Care Encounters for Depression and Anxiety Before and After Inflammatory Arthritis Diagnosis: Disentangling the Relationship Between Mental Health and Arthritis.

Objective: The study objective was to describe patterns of depression and anxiety health care use before and after diagnosis among patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA), namely, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: We used population-based linked administrative health data from British Columbia, Canada, to build a cohort of individuals (≥18 years) with incident IA and individuals without IA ("IA-free controls") matched on age and sex. We computed the proportion of individuals with IA and controls who had one or more depression or one or more anxiety health care encounters and the use of one or more antidepressants or one or more anxiolytics in each yearly interval five years before and after IA diagnosis.

Effectiveness of prophylactic intranasal photodynamic disinfection therapy and chlorhexidine gluconate body wipes for surgical site infection prophylaxis in adult spine surgery.

Background: Current measures to prevent spinal surgical site infection (SSI) lack compliance and lead to antimicrobial resistance. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of bundled preoperative intranasal photodynamic disinfection therapy (nPDT) and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) body wipes in the prophylaxis of spine SSIs in adults, as well as determine our institutional savings attributable to the use of this strategy and identify adverse events reported with nPDT-CHG.

Methods: We performed a 14-year prospective observational interrupted time-series study in adult (age > 18 yr) patients undergoing emergent or elective spine surgery with 3 time-specific cohorts: before rollout of our institution's nPDT-CHG program (2006-2010), during rollout (2011-2014) and after rollout (2015-2019).

Clinically-accessible and laboratory-derived predictors of biomechanical response to standalone and supported lateral wedge insoles in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Lateral wedge insoles (both standalone and those incorporating individualized arch support) have been frequently studied for the effects on knee joint loading and pain in people with knee osteoarthritis. It has been shown that many people who use these insoles do not obtain the intended biomechanical effect, and thus may not experience a clinical benefit. The ability to identify biomechanical responders to lateral wedge insoles before research or clinical intervention is an important objective for efficient resource use and optimizing patient outcomes.

Direct Medical Spending on Young and Average-Age Onset Colorectal Cancer before and after Diagnosis: a Population-Based Costing Study.

Background: Despite a better understanding of the increasing incidence of young-onset colorectal cancer (yCRC; age at diagnosis <50 years), little is known about its economic burden. Therefore, we estimated direct medical spending on yCRC before and after diagnosis.

Methods: We used linked administrative health databases in British Columbia, Canada, to create a study population of yCRC and average-age onset colorectal cancer (aCRC; age at diagnosis ≥50 years) cases, along with cancer-free controls.

FROST 2.0: Factors Predicting Orthopaedic Trauma Volumes - A Validation Study.

The anecdotal relationship between weather, season, and orthopaedic trauma volumes is understood by patients and healthcare providers: when the winter ground is icy, people fall. Previous research established that winter and summer months as well as ice and snow were significant predictors of orthopaedic trauma and surges in volumes. The current study validates the previously established predictive model in one Canadian city; the original methods were repeated using a new, yet geographically similar dataset.

Cardiac Phenotyping of SARS-CoV-2 in British Columbia: A Prospective Echo Study With Strain Imaging.

Background: There is limited data on the residual echocardiographic findings including strain analysis among post-coronavirus disease (COVID) patients. The aim of our study is to prospectively phenotype post-COVID patients.

Methods: All patients discharged following acute COVID infection were systematically followed in the post-COVID-19 Recovery Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital and St.

Evaluation of visual acuity in dry AMD patients after microcurrent electrical stimulation.

Background: To assess micro current to improve vision for dry age-related macular degeneration. Dry age-related macular degeneration is a major cause of blindness, disability, and severe erosion of quality of life, throughout the world. Beyond nutritional supplementation, there is no approved therapy.

Machine learning derived echocardiographic image quality in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction: insights on the echo views of greatest image quality.

We sought to determine the cardiac ultrasound view of greatest quality using a machine learning (ML) approach on a cohort of transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) with abnormal left ventricular (LV) systolic function. We utilize an ML model to determine the TTE view of highest quality when scanned by sonographers. A random sample of TTEs with reported LV dysfunction from 09/25/2017-01/15/2019 were downloaded from the regional database.

Magnetic resonance imaging predictors (cartilage, osteophytes and meniscus) of prevalent and 3-year incident medial and lateral tibiofemoral knee joint tenderness and patellofemoral grind.

Objective: To identify magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) predictors (cartilage [C], osteophytes [O] and meniscus [M] scores) of prevalent and 3-year incident medial tibiofemoral (MTF) and lateral tibiofemoral (LTF) knee joint tenderness and patellofemoral (PF) grind.  METHODS: Population-based knee pain cohort aged 40-79 was assessed at baseline (N = 255), 3- and 7-year follow-up (N = 108 × 2 = 216). COM scores were measured at 6/8/6 subregions respectively.