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At A Glance   

 

Review summaries of ICES findings in just minutes.

      

Each issue highlights five publications, looking at the: 

  

         Rationale for the research; 

         Focus of the study; 

         Key findings; and 

         Implications for health policy and/or practice.

 

To receive this monthly e-bulletin, please send your

request to info@ices.on.ca, specifying your name, title

and organization.

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At A Glance - July/August 2010

Highlights: [78.5 KB PDF]

  • Asthma sufferers at higher risk for other diseases that require medical care
  • Two-thirds of radiology patients in Ontario not receiving follow-up CT or MRI scans
  • Adults with newly diagnosed diabetes at increased risk for serious liver disease
  • Interaction of antibiotic and common heart drugs putting seniors in hospital
  • Ontarians with rheumatoid arthritis not receiving timely specialist care: POWER Study


At A Glance - June 2010

Highlights: [77.5 KB PDF]

  • Lack of primary care physicians putting Ontario's children at risk
  • Risk-factor control edges out new therapies as source of CHD mortality decline
  • Diabetes cases in Canada to increase by almost two million between 2007 and 2017
  • Adverse outcomes from joint replacement surgery not linked to provider volumes
  • Heart failure patients discharged from ED at higher risk of early death than hospitalized patients


At A Glance - May 2010

Highlights: [78.2 KB PDF]

  • Anti-smoking legislation has proven positive impact on health of Ontarians
  • Despite aging population, fewer Ontarians being admitted to hospital with stroke or TIA
  • Common blood thinner dangerous when combined with popular antibiotic
  • Study compares cardiovascular risk profiles of Canada's major ethnic groups
  • Recent immigrants at higher risk of developing diabetes


At A Glance - April 2010

Highlights: [78.5 KB PDF]

  • Study finds many patients with stable angina improve with medicines alone
  • At least one in 10 adults suffers from COPD but mortality rate declining
  • One-quarter of Ontario nursing home residents visit the ED at least once in six months
  • Ontario immigrants' duration of residence directly related to likelihood of preterm births
  • With better palliative care, fewer emergency department visits possible for cancer patients


At A Glance - March 2010

Highlights: [82.7 KB PDF]

  • Popular antidepressant blocks life-saving benefits of tamoxifen in breast cancer patients
  • Major complications after ICD implantation linked to increased mortality risk
  • Urological infections a concern for men undergoing TRUS-guided prostate biopsy
  • Simple tool identifies patients who may need closer monitoring after leaving hospital
  • Off-label use of Avastin to treat macular degeneration mushrooming in Ontario


At A Glance - February 2010

Highlights: [78.5 KB PDF]

  • Ultrasound use soars for pregnant women, even in low-risk pregnancies
  • Older patients with refractory depression may not be getting the treatment they need
  • Low-risk patients do not benefit from cardiac stress testing before major surgery
  • Physicians in non-fee-for-service practice models benefit most from primary care reforms
  • One in three Ontarians at risk of being diagnosed with asthma


At A Glance - January 2010

Highlights: [79.1 KB PDF]

  • Deaths related to narcotic pain relievers have doubled since 1991 in Ontario
  • Women's lower rates of surgery after stroke explained by differences in disease severity
  • Low-income Ontarians with diabetes have higher early death rates
  • Cost of blood glucose test strips to top $500 million in Ontario by 2013
  • Many Canadians feel their health care needs are not being met


At A Glance - December 2009

Highlights: [78.2 KB PDF]

  • Influenza vaccine safe for patients with myasthenia gravis
  • Less than half of Ontarians with depression see a doctor for treatment: POWER Study
  • Study identifies hospital markers linked to improved survival rates for heart attack patients
  • Youth with diabetes likely to be hospitalized while transitioning to adult care
  • One in four Ontario hospitals change cardiac care policies after public report cards released


At A Glance - November 2009

Highlights: [80.1 KB PDF]

  • Risk of abnormally slow heart rate twice as high in those taking drugs to slow dementia
  • Study examines patterns of gynaecological cancer care in Ontario
  • Blood pressure at hospital discharge a predictor of mortality in patients with heart failure
  • Suboptimal medication adherence linked to increased mortality in patients with stents
  • Study sets targets to make Ontario Canada's healthiest province


At A Glance - October 2009

Highlights: [76.6 KB PDF]

  • More educated patients have better access to specialist health care in Ontario
  • Antipsychotic dispensing rates linked to increased risk of death for nursing home residents
  • Patients with acute kidney injury more likely to need dialysis within five years
  • POWER Study: Fewer than half of women with abnormal Pap tests receive follow-up care
  • Study confirms sex bias in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator use


At A Glance - September 2009

Highlights: [79.4 KB PDF]

  • Popular diabetes medications have different rates of heart failure and death
  • Mild glucose intolerance in pregnancy may signal increased cardiovascular risk in later life
  • Study finds 50% increase in inflammatory bowel disease in Ontario children in past decade
  • Risk factors for cardiovascular disease on the rise among Canada's young and poor
  • Diabetic seniors taking antipsychotic drugs at higher risk of hospitalization for hyperglycemia


At A Glance - July/August 2009

Highlights: [81.7 KB PDF]

  • Canadian spending on heart drugs doubles to more than $5 billion a year
  • Ontario women live longer but are sicker: Project for an Ontario Women's Health Evidence-based Report (POWER) study
  • Household income influences risk of death in infants with complex medical conditions
  • Physician visits made by asthma sufferers exposed to air pollution linked to income level
  • Hip and knee replacement surgery saves the health system money


At A Glance - June 2009

Highlights: [81.9 KB PDF]

  • Heart attack patients not prioritized properly in Ontario emergency departments
  • Study forecasts considerable increase in Ontarians needing dialysis services
  • Primary care reform not solving healthcare access for the poor and chronically ill
  • Mortality and hospitalization rates for cardiovascular diseases declining steadily in Canada
  • Administrative data tool reveals more Ontario children being diagnosed with diabetes


At A Glance - May 2009

Highlights: [76.4 KB PDF]

  • Highly educated Ontarians have better access to psychiatric care
  • Drug for enlarged prostate can cause complications after cataract surgery
  • Serious adverse events linked to use of dementia drug in older adults
  • Even mild blood sugar-level abnormalities during pregnancy increase type 2 diabetes risk
  • Many patients who undergo incomplete colonoscopies receive suboptimal follow-up


At A Glance - April 2009

Highlights: [70 KB PDF]

  • Ontario achieves modest gains with universal influenza immunization program
  • Anesthesia consultation before surgery reduces hospital stay
  • Diabetic patients with heart disease receive more benefit from paclitaxel-eluting stents
  • Statin therapy associated with reduced mortality at five years in heart failure patients
  • Wealthier heart attack survivors more likely to make needed lifestyle changes


At A Glance - March 2009

Highlights: [70 KB PDF]

  • Wealthy Ontarians have better access to MRI scans
  • Diabetes testing more common but its effectiveness questioned
  • Risk of eye infection low after cataract surgery
  • Audit finds major improvements in stroke care in Ontario
  • Study questions use of expensive patient transfer resources for routine, non-urgent trips


At A Glance - February 2009

Highlights: [82.5 KB PDF]

  • Acid suppressants increase heart attack risk for patients taking popular cardiac drug
  • Study measures impact of recurring hospitalizations for heart failure on mortality
  • Cardiac rehabilitation services provide significant survival benefit to committed users
  • Study finds a 10-year decline in Ontario hospitalizations for traumatic brain injury
  • Electronic archiving systems have little impact on the frequency of duplicate diagnostic imaging


At A Glance - January 2009

Highlights: [94 KB PDF]

  • Study probes effectiveness of colonoscopy in identifying some colon cancers
  • Residential environment has little effect on birthweight of children of recent immigrants
  • Depression associated with significantly higher use of health services by heart attack survivors
  • Health care utilization in Ontario increases significantly among older age groups
  • Study identifies Canadians at greatest risk for colonoscopy complications


At A Glance - December 2008

Highlights: [80 KB PDF]

 

·       Hernia surgery wait times increase risk for infants and young children

·       Universal access to chicken pox vaccine reduces burden on Ontario’s health care system

·       Increasing access to antiplatelet drug improves cardiovascular outcomes

·       Study finds significant regional variation in rates of diagnostic imaging across Ontario

·       New cancer surgery atlas maps variations in patterns of care in Ontario



At A Glance - November 2008

Highlights: [81.5 KB PDF]

  • High risk of motor vehicle collisions for dementia patients on psychotropic medications
  • Study questions the effectiveness of colonoscopy for the upper colon
  • Tiotropium associated with improved survival in patients with COPD
  • Free flu shots linked to fewer deaths and demands on the healthcare system in Ontario
  • Prescribing patterns linked to age of heart attack survivors and to physician characteristics


At A Glance - October 2008

Highlights: [92 KB PDF]

  • Warfarin underused by patients at high risk for stroke
  • Statin use in elderly patients linked to higher risk of delirium after surgery
  • Attendance at diabetes education centres associated with access to regular primary care
  • Study finds disparities in access to diagnostic imaging services among elderly Ontarians
  • Surgeon's specialty a factor in repeat surgeries for women with ovarian cancer


At A Glance - September 2008

Highlights: [78 KB PDF]

  • No increase in cardiovascular risk detected for kidney donors in years following donation
  • Seriously ill hospitalized patients unaffected by SARS restrictions in Toronto
  • Flexible sigmoidoscopy of limited benefit in screening for cancers of the proximal colon
  • Mechanically ventilated patients benefit from early tracheostomy
  • Study shows epidural anaesthesia only slightly improves postoperative survival


At A Glance - July/August 2008

Highlights: [79 KB PDF]

·      More family physicians needed to reduce visits to Ontario's emergency departments

·      Study identifies hospital and patient variables associated with early vs. late stroke fatalities

·      Ethnic minorities with diabetes less likely to receive eye examinations in Ontario

·      Indications for and results of CT and MRI scans in Ontario examined

·      Many elderly Ontarians with atherosclerosis not receiving necessary statin therapy



At A Glance - June 2008

Highlights: [85 KB PDF]

·      Antipsychotic drugs prescribed for elderly patients with dementia may be dangerous

·      Earlier predictions seriously underestimate the prevalence of hypertension by 2025

·      Women with gestational diabetes at increased risk for cardiovascular disease after pregnancy

·      Distinct age and sex differences evident in medicinal self-poisonings

·      Study finds further opportunities to prevent hospital deaths following CAGB surgery



At A Glance - May 2008

Highlights: [81 KB PDF]

·         Rise in prevalence of hypertension partly explained by decline in mortality

·         Children of immigrants more likely to be immunized than children of non-immigrants

·         Study finds risk of serious assault spikes with alcohol sales

·         Some ACE inhibitors less beneficial in treating elderly patients with congestive heart failure

·         Study describes indicators of aggressive end-of-life care among lung cancer patients



At A Glance - April 2008

Highlights: [77 KB PDF]

·         Ezetimibe prescribing soars in the United States compared to Canada

·         SSRI antidepressant use during pregnancy not a factor in postpartum hemorrhage

·         Survivors of traumatic brain injury face increased risk of premature death

·         Statins appear to exert class effect in patients with congestive heart failure

·         Study finds regional mismatch between cardiologist supply and demand for cardiac services



At A Glance - March 2008

Highlights: [136 KB PDF]

·         Scientists estimate expected survival time for patients suffering from heart failure

·         Study suggests women with vulvar cancer may not be receiving optimal care

·         Heart attack survivors who don’t fill prescriptions have increased risk of one-year mortality

·         Drug history profiles based solely on provincial drug benefit claims likely to be incomplete

·         Prescription cost-sharing adversely affects children’s use of asthma medication



At A Glance - February 2008

Highlights: [70 KB PDF]

·      Physicians reluctant to report patients who are medically unfit to drive

·      Women with diabetes experience higher mortality rates following breast cancer

·      Study examines anticoagulation control and hospitalization in elderly patients

·      Benefit of long-term cholinesterase inhibitor use for dementia patients questioned

·      Value of cardiac troponin testing confirmed as a predictor of mortality in heart failure patients



At A Glance - January 2008

Highlights: [91 KB PDF]

·         Over one in 10 elderly hypertensive Ontarians being prescribed beta blockers as initial therapy

·         Low colorectal cancer detection rates support the need for an organized screening program

·         Elderly COPD patients benefit significantly from combined generalist and specialist care

·         Long-term statin use may be associated with decreased risk of bleeding in warfarin users

·         Study reveals inequities among Ontario ICD recipients



At A Glance - December 2007

Highlights: [91 KB PDF]

·         Thiazolidinedione therapy poses risks to older patients with diabetes

·         Colorectal cancer screening rates are low across Ontario regions

·         Study suggests similar hip fracture rates in older women using different bisphosphonates

·         Ontario home care services are being used by those who most need them

·         Ontario emergency departments should examine pediatric asthma management strategies



At A Glance - November 2007

Highlights: [78 KB PDF]

·         Study examines the effects of age, gender and disease on defibrillator recipients

·         Recent immigrant mothers experience higher risk of low birthweight infants

·         Parents of asthmatic children are reliable reporters of emergency department visits

·         ICES Atlas investigates the diabetes epidemic and Toronto neighbourhoods

·         Elderly patients becoming chronic sleeping pill users following hospitalization



At A Glance - October 2007

Highlights: [124 KB PDF]

·         Drug-coated heart stents found to be safe and effective in high-risk angioplasty patients

·         Flu vaccination rates have doubled in the past decade, yet still fall short of national targets

·         Ontario study finds barriers to biopsy use in diagnosing breast cancer

·         Improving quality of care in long-term care hospitals is not always more costly

·         Study examines the impact of obesity on chronic disease in Canadians



At A Glance - September 2007

Highlights: [79 KB PDF]

·        Cataract surgery rates more than doubled in Ontario: demand still exceeds supply

·        One in four elderly Ontarians with hypertension is prescribed unproven drug combinations

·        Immigrant women not receiving adequate cervical cancer screening

·        Inpatient smoking-cessation counseling is an underused intervention

·        Better anticoagulation control needed for hospitalized patients



At A Glance - July/August 2007

Highlights: [79 KB PDF]

·        Canada lags behind international community in strategies to reduce wait times

·        Colonoscopies done in doctors' offices more likely to be incomplete

·        TV advertising increases public awareness of stroke symptoms and ED visits for stroke

·        Study examines patterns of health care use by youth and young adults with cerebral palsy

·        SARS hospital restrictions decreased elective admissions, but also affected urgent services



At A Glance - June 2007

Highlights: [70 KB PDF]

·        Ontario’s Wait Time Strategy shows no evidence of impact on other surgical procedure rates

·        Emergency department use in the US and Ontario is very similar

·        Recent immigrants to Ontario have fewer pregnancy complications

·        Decreasing salt intake could reduce the number of Canadians with high blood pressure

·        Socioeconomic status is linked to higher ambulatory care-sensitive hospitalizations in children



At A Glance - May 2007

Highlights: [72 KB PDF]

·        Many nursing homes prescribe antipsychotic drugs to residents who don't need them

·        Growth of cardiac technology in Ontario is outpacing scientific evidence

·        Satellite haemodialysis units are effective for service delivery in rural Ontario

·        Study explores depression, gender and income levels in recent Canadian immigrants

·        Significant regional variation exists across Ontario for anti-reflux surgery to treat GERD



At A Glance - April 2007

Highlights: [78 KB PDF]

·        Diabetes increases risk of hip fracture in the elderly by 20%

·        Ontario EDs miss diagnosing 1 in 20 ruptured brain aneurysms

·        Study shows impact of antidepressant warnings on prescribing trends

·        Avoidable mortality reduced during first 25 years of universal health insurance

·        Better anticoagulation control has health benefits for entire elderly population



At A Glance - March 2007

Highlights: [72 KB PDF]

·        Ophthalmologists who perform more cataract surgeries have better patient outcomes

·        Study examines upper GI bleeding following COX-2 inhibitor use in Ontario versus B.C.

·        Calcium channel blockers may improve patient outcomes following stroke

·        Parkinson’s patients still receiving older, typical antipsychotics, despite recommendations

·        People with diabetes are being under treated for coronary risk



At A Glance - February 2007

Highlights: [79 KB PDF]

·         More university-educated RNs and improved staff satisfaction could reduce hospital death rates

·         Study examines health and life outcomes of youth and young adults with disabilities

·         Care to Ontario heart attack patients is similar to certain regions of the U.S.

·         Guns and knives responsible for over 40,000 trauma visits to Ontario emergency departments

·        Certain factors predict whether colorectal cancer may be missed



At A Glance - January 2007

Highlights: [70 KB PDF]

·         Study demonstrates need for comprehensive influenza immunization registry in Ontario

·         ICU patients have increased risk of discontinuing medications for chronic conditions

·         Study examines differences in statin prescriptions between Ontario and BC

·         EDs that treat more heart attack patients are less likely to miss the diagnosis

·        Nurse-performed screening program for colorectal cancer can be safe and effective



At A Glance - December 2006

Highlights: [71 KB PDF]

·         ACE inhibitors associated with reduced risk of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

·         Continuity of physician care is not likely to reduce the volume of lab tests 

·         Recommendations for establishing an Ontario Citizens' Council to guide drug policy

·         Restrictions on elective hospital admissions may be insufficient to meet demand in pandemic

·        ICES Primary Care Atlas most comprehensive report of its kind in Ontario



At A Glance - November 2006

Highlights: [71 KB PDF]

·         ICES study shows ED waiting times and crowding not affected by patients with minor ailments

·         Addition of diagnostic imaging equipment in rural areas improves local health care

·         PPIs do not raise risk of hospitalization for C. difficile in elderly patients taking antibiotics

·         Many elderly diabetes patients not receiving recommended drugs

·        Study compares treatment outcomes for achalasia patients



At A Glance - October 2006

Highlights: [104 KB PDF]

·         Joint replacement surgery wait times impacted by patients’ willingness to have procedure

·         Women newly-diagnosed with diabetes are more likely to have a history of breast cancer

·         Analysis reveals important lessons about cross-provincial drug plan research

·         Initial, confidential CABG report cards had biggest impact on reducing mortality rates

·        ICES report examines the burden of asthma in the under 40 population



At A Glance - September 2006

Highlights: [66 KB PDF]

·         Different form of heart failure found to be common and deadly

·         Local availability of rheumatologists affects specialist utilization by arthritis patients

·         Study shows no significant difference among ACE inhibitors for heart attack patients

·         ICES report examines state of primary care services for specific patient populations

·         Mortality of patients on life support does not differ by hospital volume



At A Glance - July/August 2006

Highlights: [455 KB PDF]

·         Significant proportion of Ontario cancer patients have poor quality end-of-life care

·         Clinical trials that use acronyms are cited more often 

·         Study identifies performance measures for emergency department care for children

·         ICES report presents in-depth look at primary care across the life-cycle

·         Landmark report examines influence of geography on heart disease patients across Canada



At A Glance - June 2006

Highlights: [465 KB PDF]

·         Study shows wide disparities in effectiveness of anti-smoking laws across Canada

·         Mental health care use is unequal between socioeconomic groups 

·         Women and low income earners more likely to have dangerous colorectal cancer complications

·         Wait times not growing, but inequities still exist, ICES report shows

·         Physician prescribing patterns are improving for diabetes patients with hypertension



At A Glance - May 2006

Highlights: [647 KB PDF]

·         SSRI antidepressants associated with increased risk of suicide in first month of therapy

·         Women with diabetes may have increased risk of breast cancer

·         Ontario's universal influenza program having a positive impact on vaccination rates 

·         ICES report shows Ontario's health information is in need of urgent upgrades

·         Prescribing of Alzheimer's drugs varies among Canadian family physicians despite guidelines



At A Glance - April 2006

Highlights: [646 KB PDF]

·         Common antibiotic can cause potentially fatal blood sugar abnormalities

·         Spironolactone often prescribed to inappropriate heart failure patients

·         Low-risk chest pain patients may not benefit from electrocardiographic monitoring

·         New cervical cancer treatment recommendations have changed practice in Ontario

·         Pregestational diabetes becoming more common in Ontario women



At A Glance - March 2006

Highlights: [66 KB PDF]

·        Increases in cardiac tests outpacing growth of heart disease

·        Immunizations not up-to-date in many Ontario two-year-olds

·        Statins may help to protect heart disease patients against sepsis

·        Ontarians with depression have equitable access to mental health services

·        Acne patients in lower income groups less likely to be referred to dermatologists



At A Glance - February 2006

Highlights: [65 KB PDF]

·        ICES report provides in-depth look at physician services in rural and Northern Ontario

·        Traditional risk factors more influential than SES in explaining differences in heart attack mortality

·        Adults with disabilities from childhood require improved processes of care

·        Blood sugar control better for persons with diabetes who receive specialist care

·        Suicidal individuals without depression require better contact with mental health professionals



At A Glance - January 2006

Highlights: [68 KB PDF]

·        Paper discusses current challenges facing diagnostic imaging sector

·        More people with diabetes negates gains from reduced cardiovascular complications

·        Metabolic problems increase risk of pregnancy complications

·        Rural family medicine programs growing, but curriculums not adhering to guidelines

·        Women may require more information for stroke care decision-making



At A Glance - December 2005

Highlights: [67 KB PDF]

·        Certain pregnancy complications may increase the risk of heart disease in women

·        Use of CT and MRI scans increased at a greater rate in non-cancer patients

·        Depression during hospitalization for coronary syndromes can impact mortality rates

·        Study highlights important differences in heart failure care between the U.S. and Ontario

·        Elderly have increased use of EDs during flu outbreaks



At A Glance - November 2005

Highlights: [72 KB PDF]

·        Short-acting beta-blockers associated with less cardiac protection for surgery patients

·        Outcomes improving for colorectal cancer surgery patients

·        Social policy changes should better evaluate potential health effects

·        Breast cancer screening less likely in women with diabetes

·        Newer atypical antispychotics can also cause parkinsonism



At A Glance - October 2005

Highlights: [72 KB PDF]

·         ICES report identifies most at-risk group for injuries in Ontario

·         Heart failure patients at highest risk of death are least likely to get drug treatment

·         Some stroke outcomes are worse for women than for men

·         Study outlines what attracts urban- and rural-raised family physicians to rural practice

·         Antipsychotic use in the elderly up 35%, but costs up 749%



At A Glance - September 2005

Highlights: [67 KB PDF]

·         ICES report outlines latest trends in Ontario primary care services

·         Antipsychotics increase risk of movement disorders in dementia patients

·         Various statins equally effective for preventing recurrent heart attacks or death in the elderly

·         Study demonstrates which groups are more likely to get colorectal cancer screening 

·         Obese people at greater risk for GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)



At A Glance - July/August 2005

Highlights: [65 KB PDF]

·         Trauma injury risk is higher in summer for pregnant women

·         Population-based study demonstrates striking seasonality of croup hospitalizations in Ontario

·         Osteoporosis diagnosis and testing improvements reducing fracture rates in the elderly

·         Stroke-on-awakening and stroke-while-awake patients have similar outcomes

·         Valproate and lithium cause equally small rate of delirium in older adults with mood disorders



At A Glance - June 2005

Highlights: [80 KB PDF]

·         Ontario facing critical shortage of neurosurgery specialists

·         Stopping warfarin therapy after major trauma may increase risk of blood clots in the elderly

·         Introduction of laparoscopic cholecystectomy has lowered incidence of severe gallstone disease

·         Alternative funding arrangements (AFAs) have not led to big changes in ED physician workforce

·         Socioeconomic status not associated with mortality in elderly pneumonia patients



At A Glance - May 2005

Highlights: [77 KB PDF]

·        New cholesterol guidelines will cost health care system millions in unnecessary prescriptions

·        Hospital type and delays to surgery impact outcomes for hip fracture patients

·        More neighbourhood fast-food restaurants associated with more heart disease and deaths

·        Certain Ontarians with diabetes still experience high complication rates, despite overall decline

·        Dementia drugs may cause increased prescribing of incontinence medications to the elderly



At A Glance - April 2005

Highlights: [168 KB PDF]

·        ICES report identifies how long Ontarians are waiting for key health services

·        Drug therapy as good as costly invasive cardiac procedures for elderly heart attack patients

·        Hospital admissisons in Ontario show consistency and predictability

·        Pediatric hernia surgeries best done by pediatric surgeons or high volume general surgeons

·        Diabetes-related dialysis needs are growing in Ontario



At A Glance - March 2005

Highlights: [164 KB PDF]

·        Internationally trained doctors provide same level of heart attack care as Canadian physicians

·        U.S. cancer centers of excellence have lower surgical mortality, but same long-term survival rates

·        Diabetic patients with poor blood sugar control could be better managed

·        Aging ‘baby boomers’ will increase need for life support in ICUs

·        Clinical trials of Alzheimer’s drug do not adequately represent patients taking it



At A Glance - February 2005

Highlights: [176 KB PDF]

·         Blueprint for children’s health services needed in Ontario

·         SSRIs do not increase risk of digoxin toxicity

·         Minorities under represented in clinical trials

·         Surgeon specialty and volume impacts outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer

·         Single data source could help improve heart attack care in Canada



At A Glance - January 2005

Highlights: [169 KB PDF]

·        Potentially inappropriate drugs for seniors available through ODB

·        Alcohol-related hospitalizations highest in low-income, middle-aged individuals

·        Study shows new benefit of statins in heart failure patients

·        Diabetics who manage glucose levels effectively are not as diligent with other conditions

·        Elderly colorectal cancer patients have worse outcomes following surgery



At A Glance - December 2004

Highlights: [172 KB PDF]

·        Heart attack patients have dangerous waits for drugs in the ED

·        High volume surgeons better for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms

·        Framework developed for Ontario's first report card on public health

·        ICES study outlines cost of implementing new privacy legislation

·        Nursing home residents less likely to get inappropriate drugs



At A Glance - November 2004

Highlights: [168 KB PDF]

·        Study provides insights into non-invasive cardiac testing in Ontario

·        Higher income people more likely to receive colorectal cancer tests

·        Little evidence available to support the use of atypical antipsychotics to treat dementia

·        Flu outbreaks account for nearly 25% of ED overcrowding

·        Antihypertensive medications do not increase risk of type 2 diabetes



At A Glance - October 2004

Highlights: [172 KB PDF]

·        Study offers insights into seasonal patterns for influenza and pneumonia hospitalizations

·        Certain common medications can cause lithium toxicity in the elderly

·        Ontario wait times for arthritis-related joint surgeries increase by up to 9 weeks

·        Beta-blocker therapy safe for certain heart failure patients

·        Study maps mammography use in large urban cities



At A Glance - September 2004

Highlights: [162 KB PDF]   

·        Access to specialists improves treatment for arthritis patients

·        Colonoscopy does not detect all colon cancers

·        Socioeconomic status affects common childhood surgeries

·        Study shows wide variation in cardiac arrest outcomes across Canada

·        Atypical antipsychotic drugs not associated with increased risk of stroke in elderly



At A Glance - July/August 2004

Highlights: [167 KB PDF]

·        Spironolactone use can lead to increased hospitalizations and deaths from high potassium

·        More hospital beds filled by patients requiring life support

·        More detailed cardiac procedure data needed

·        Low number of Ontarians screened for colorectal cancer

·        Certain maternal factors cause developmental disorders in young children



At A Glance - June 2004

Highlights: [159 KB PDF]

·         Use of anti-inflammatory drugs associated with greater risk of hospitalization for heart failure

·         Patients should see hospital physicians after discharge

·         Leading causes of global death and disability not being studied in clinical trials

·         Many common illnesses increase risk of suicide in elderly

·         Most deaths in men with prostate cancer not due to prostate cancer



At A Glance - May 2004

Highlights: [171 KB PDF]

·        Essential health services not disrupted by SARS outbreak

·        Nearly 25% of nursing home residents on antipsychotic drugs within one year of admission

·        Ontario study offers first population-wide look at childhood asthma in Canada

·        Outcomes can be better at hospitals that perform high volumes of various complex surgeries

·        Many Canadian heart failure patients experience poor outcomes



At A Glance - April 2004

Highlights: [166 KB PDF]

·        Privacy concerns hinder the development of useful medical registries needed to improve care

·        Infant hospitalizations impacted by family’s health

·        Patients at high risk for stroke are being under treated in Ontario

·        Study shows striking variation in the use of end-of-life care in U.S. hospitals

·        Rectal cancer patients treated at high-volume hospitals have better outcomes



At A Glance - March 2004

Highlights: [223 KB PDF]

·         Nearly one quarter of hospital patients experienced an adverse event after discharge

·         Consumer expectations vs. health system sustainability: can a balance be achieved?

·         Obesity and asthma unrelated in children

·         Thousands more Ontarians should be screened for colorectal cancer

·         ALLHAT trial shows that physicians’ prescribing patterns change in response to new evidence



At A Glance - February 2004

Highlights: [172 KB PDF]

·         Isolating patients for infection control may have unintended consequences

·         Diabetes impacts both quality and length of life

·         Migraines a major cause of frequent emergency department visits

·         Achieving Canadian benchmarks for hospital cardiac care would save lives

·         Parkinson’s patients hospitalized more often for certain conditions



At A Glance - January 2004

Highlights: [166 KB PDF]

·         New approach needed for drug evaluation in Canada

·         Chest pain patients in higher SES neighbourhoods have shorter ambulance transport times

·         Elderly men in the U.S. are receiving excessive screening for prostate cancer

·        Heart failure index can help doctors predict risk of death

·        Dementia patients use more resources, but in a similar pattern to patients without dementia



At A Glance - December 2003

Highlights: [159 KB PDF]

·         Heart disease drug expenditures soar in Canada

·         Lower income people with diabetes suffering excessive hospitalizations

·         Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) do not cause acute pancreatitis in the elderly

·        High-volume surgeons improve outcomes for patients undergoing certain high-risk procedures

·        Certain patient characteristics can predict risk of stroke or death after carotid endarterectomy



At A Glance - November 2003

Highlights: [176 KB PDF]

·         Heart disease risk factors and death rates vary across Canada

·         Restrictions to provincial drug plan coverage have a major impact on drug use and expenditures

·         Volume of high-risk surgeries performed at hospitals unrelated to length of stay or readmission

·        Better evidence needed to support PET use in evaluating Alzheimer’s disease

·        One type of heparin is better for treating acute coronary syndromes in rural hospital settings



At A Glance - October 2003

Highlights: [165 KB PDF]

·         Canadian hospitalization rates for cardiovascular conditions increasing

·         Emergency department “gridlock” results in delays for patients with chest pain

·         Polysporinâ ointment reduces infections and mortality in dialysis patients

·         Parkinson’s patients not receiving adequate access to specialists

·         HOPE (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation) trial’s effect on ramipril prescribing unprecedented



At A Glance - September 2003

Highlights: [187 KB PDF]

 ·         Waiting times for cardiac procedures pose significant hazards for heart attack patients

·         Survival improving dramatically for Hodgkin’s disease patients

·         Ontario First Nations people receiving inadequate primary care

·         Treatment advice varies between medical directors and their respective poison centres

·         Impact of chronic conditions on quality of life varies by age and gender



At A Glance - July/August 2003

Highlights: [163 KB PDF]

·         Standardized data collection is a prerequisite to managing access to MRI services

·         Estrogen replacement therapy use dropped dramatically after landmark study

·         Treatment by cardiologists does improve outcomes for heart failure patients

·         Implantable defibrillators can prevent sudden cardiac death better than medications alone

·         Diabetes increases the risk of developing and dying from infectious diseases



At A Glance - June 2003

Highlights: [165 KB PDF]

·         Pre-operative chest X-ray and ECG are often unnecessary

·         New baby in home increases risk of iron poisoning in young children

·         Low screening rates for diabetic eye disease may be due to changes in OHIP coverage

·         Surgery in high-volume hospitals prevents few post-operative deaths

·         ICES Cardiovascular Atlas provides stimulus for improvement



At A Glance - May 2003

Highlights: [167 KB PDF]

 

 ·         Parkinson’s disease is placing a heavy financial burden on Ontario’s health care system

·         Key cause of emergency department overcrowding is a lack of inpatient beds

·         Inequities in accessing specialists mainly due to geography

·         Drug interactions in the elderly are causing unnecessary admissions

·         Physicians under-treating diabetic heart attack patients





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