Category Ranking
98%
Total Visits
921
Avg Visit Duration
2 minutes
Citations
20
Article Abstract
Introduction: The prevalence of hearing loss in Canada is high, with many patients requiring implantable hearing devices (IHDs) as treatment for their disease severity. Despite this need, many eligible patients do not pursue these interventions. The objective of this study was to examine rates of IHD based on geographic location to understand locoregional variation in access to care.
Study Design: This was a retrospective population-based cohort study.
Setting: All hospitals in the Canadian province of Ontario.
Methods: Of all patients with IHD between April 1, 1992, and March 31, 2021, cochlear implants (CIs) (4,720) and bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) (1,125) cohorts were constructed. Place of residence was categorized based on Local Health Integrated Network (LHIN). Summary statistics for place of surgical institution based on LHIN at first surgery, name of institution of first surgery and "as the crow flies" distance (in km) between place of residence and surgical institution were calculated. Rate of implantations was calculated for LHIN regions based on number of surgeries per 1,000,000 persons/years.
Results: Toronto Central, Central, Central East, and Champlain regions had >10% of patients undergoing BAHA and CI. 1,019 (90.6%) and 4,232 (89.7%) of patients receiving BAHA and CI, respectively, resided in urban/suburban regions and 94 patients (8.4%) and 436 (9.2%) resided in rural regions. The median distance between residential location and the institution was 46.4 km (interquartile range [IQR], 18.9-103.6) and 44.7 km (IQR, 15.7-96.9) for BAHA and CI, respectively. From 1992 to 2021, the number of CI and BAHA performed across Ontario increased by 17 folds and 6 folds, respectively.
Conclusion: This large comprehensive population study provides longitudinal insight into the access to care of IHD based on geographic factors. Our findings of the present population-based study indicate an overall increase in access to devices with disproportionate access to care based on geographic locations. Further work is needed to characterize barriers to IHD access to align with demands.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000534384 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Successful percutaneous retrieval of fractured umbilical artery catheter in a very low birth weight preterm neonate.
Turk J Pediatr
September 2025
Department of Anesthesiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, India.
Background: Umbilical arterial catheterisation is a common intervention performed in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) especially in extremely preterm and extremely low birth weight neonates. Rarely catheter fracture or breakage can occur, leaving behind part of the catheter in the aorta. A handful of cases have been reported in the literature, with the majority being managed surgically.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImpact of Gender of the Child on Health Care-Seeking Behavior of Caregivers of Childhood Patients With Cancer: A Mixed-Methods Study.
JCO Glob Oncol
May 2025
Department of Medical Oncology, Dr B.R.A. Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Purpose: Gender bias against girls may affect health-seeking behavior and outcomes of childhood cancer. This study aimed to study the nature and extent of gender bias in health care among caregivers of childhood patients with cancer and also in community.
Methods: This cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted in a tertiary cancer hospital and an urban community between July 2021 and July 2023.
Purpose: In Armenia, a lower-middle-income country, cancer causes 21% of all deaths, with over half of cases diagnosed at advanced stages. Without universal health insurance, patients rely on out-of-pocket payments or black-market channels for costly immunotherapies, underscoring the need for real-world data to inform equitable policy reforms.
Methods: We conducted a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of patients who received at least one dose of an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) between January 2017 and December 2023 across six Armenian oncology centers.
Comprehensive Overview of Breast Cancer in India.
JCO Glob Oncol
May 2025
Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Purpose: Breast cancer remains a significant public health challenge globally, as well as in India, where it is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in females. Significant disparities in incidence, mortality, and access to health care across India's sociodemographically diverse population highlight the need for increased awareness, policy reform, and research.
Design: This review consolidates data from national cancer registries, global cancer databases, and institutional findings from a tertiary care center to examine the epidemiology, clinical challenges, and management gaps specific to India.
Challenges and Opportunities in Head and Neck Cancer Research in Developing Countries: Insights From a Fireside Chat.
JCO Glob Oncol
May 2025
Grupo Oncoclínicas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a significant public health burden in developing countries, where access to early diagnosis, comprehensive care, and research infrastructure is limited. This article synthesizes the insights generated during a Fireside Chat convened by members of the Latin American Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG)-Head and Neck and the Brazilian Group of Head and Neck Cancer (GBCP), with the participation of international expert Professor Hisham Mehanna. The discussion addressed key challenges and opportunities in clinical and translational research within resource-constrained settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF