We are pleased to announce the release of our 2022-2023 Annual Report, as we mark another year of evolution for ICES. We invite you to discover the ways we have been leveraging equity-informed approaches to health research and analytics. ICES strives to look beyond the numbers, and to acknowledge that our role as custodians of health-related data is a privilege and requires deeper reflection and action to make evidence accessible to everyone.
The report shares five stories of how our research is having an impact and leading to positive health system and policy change:
- The work of Dr. Paula Rochon and the Women’s Age Lab has shone a spotlight on the issues and challenges faced by older women, specifically in the areas of gendered ageism, reimagining aging in different care settings, optimizing therapies, and promoting social connectedness.
- Two ground-breaking trials leveraged ICES data to streamline the trial process, guide treatment decisions and improve patient care. MyTEMP investigated cooler dialysis fluid’s impact on cardiovascular health and found it did not offer benefits and increased discomfort for patients. The COACH trial studied a decision support tool for heart failure patients, which led to reduced hospitalizations and deaths.
- Our research team has also developed important online risk calculators to help individuals understand and prevent dementia and chronic kidney disease (CKD), by raising awareness about individual risk factors for disease and encouraging lifestyle changes. Both the Dementia Calculator and the Chronic Kidney Disease Calculator had thousands of users in the months following their launch, and widespread media coverage.
- ICES’ valuable partnership with Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (WAHA) helped to co-develop important health data projects for communities in the James Bay and Hudson Bay Region in Northeast Ontario. This provided health information to community leaders, which informed policy and health system decision-making.
- With Canada facing a significant opioid crisis, a research project was initiated in response to concerns raised by several First Nations about the health of school-aged children exposed to opioids prenatally. The research findings have been shared with each participating First Nation to raise awareness and to obtain funding to expand community-based healing, treatment, and recovery programs and services.
As we launch a new strategic plan this year, we will continue to expand our partnerships and deepen our engagement with equity-deserving communities in Ontario, all of which are critical to remaining true to our mission.