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Understanding the economic burden of road trauma (RT) can support healthcare and traffic policy. This prospective cohort study enrolled 1480 RT survivors in British Columbia, Canada. Healthcare and lost productivity costs were estimated in 2023 Canadian dollars. Productivity loss was measured at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months post-injury. Potential predictors included sociodemographic, psychological, medical, and trauma factors. Outcomes were analyzed with a generalized linear model and quantile regression. We found that average healthcare costs during the year following RT were $19,280 (median $3,791). Average lost productivity cost for people employed when injured was $4,390 (median $1,011). Older age, lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), ≥ 2 comorbidities, Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 9, Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 13, and torso injury were significantly associated with higher healthcare costs. Employed participants had lower healthcare costs. Older age, being female, lower HRQoL, ≥ 2 comorbidities, ISS ≥ 9, spine/back and upper extremity injuries were significantly associated with higher lost productivity costs. These factors were more strongly associated with greater costs at the upper quantiles. This study highlights the economic burden of RT injuries and identifies factors associated with higher costs.

Background Road trauma is a major public health concern, often resulting in reduced health-related quality of life and prolonged absenteeism from work even after so-called ‘minor’ injuries that do not result in hospitalization. This manuscript compares pre-injury health, sociodemographic characteristics and injury details between age, sex, and road user categories in a cohort of 1,480 road trauma survivors. Methods This was a prospective observational inception cohort study of road trauma survivors recruited between July 2018 and March 2020 from three trauma centres in British Columbia, Canada. Participants were aged ≥ 16 years and arrived in a participating emergency department within 24 h of involvement in a motor vehicle collision. Data were collected from structured interviews and review of medical records. Results The cohort of 1,480 road trauma survivors included 280 pedestrians, 174 cyclists, 118 motorcyclists, 683 motor vehicle drivers, and 225 passengers. Median age was 40 (IQR = [27, 57]) years; 680 (46%) were female. Males and younger patients were significantly more likely to report better pre-injury physical health. Motorcyclists and cyclists tended to report better physical health and less severe somatic symptoms, whereas pedestrians and motor vehicle drivers reported better mental health. Injury severity and hospital admission rates were higher in pedestrians and motorcyclists and lower in motorists. Upper and lower extremity injuries were most common in pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, whereas neck injuries were most common in motor vehicle drivers and passengers. Conclusions In a large cohort of road trauma survivors, overall injury severity was low. Motorcyclists and pedestrians, but not cyclists, had more severe injuries than motorists. Extremity injuries were more common in vulnerable road users. Future research will investigate one-year recovery outcomes and identify risk factors for poor recovery.

Nerinetide is a neuroprotectant effective in preclinical models of acute ischaemic stroke when administered within 3 h of onset. However, the clinical evaluation of neuroprotectants in this short timeframe is challenging. We sought to establish the feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of nerinetide when given before hospital arrival within 3 h of symptom onset of suspected stroke. In this multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, paramedics enrolled participants aged 40–95 years within 3 h of suspected severe stroke onset, who were previously independent, and were being taken to one of seven stroke centres in Ontario or British Columbia, Canada. The primary hypothesis was that the administration of nerinetide would result in a higher rate of good functional outcomes. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to intravenous nerinetide (2·6 mg/kg) or placebo, each in visually identical vials. Paramedics, hospital care providers, and outcome evaluators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary outcome was good functional outcome on a sliding dichotomy of the modified Rankin Scale at 90 days. Participants were assessed on day 4, 30, and 90 by the stroke center research team, in person or over the telephone. Outcomes, adjusted for age and stroke severity, were evaluated in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population, and in the target population of those with acute ischaemic stroke. The safety population included all participants who received the study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02315443), and trial enrolment has concluded. Between March 26, 2015, and March 27, 2023, 532 participants received nerinetide (n=265) or placebo (n=267). The mITT population of suspected stroke (n=507; 254 nerinetide and 253 placebo) included 321 (63%) with acute ischaemic stroke, 93 (18%) with intracranial haemorrhage, 44 (9%) with transient ischaemic attack, and 49 (10%) with stroke-mimicking conditions. Treatment began a median of 64 min (IQR 47–100) from symptom onset. Participants randomly assigned to nerinetide had more severe strokes compared with those receiving placebo (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 12, IQR 5–19 vs 10, 4–18 in mITT, and 14, 7–19 vs 10, 4–18 in the acute ischaemic stroke subgroup). Overall, 145 (57%) of 254 participants in the nerinetide group and 147 (58%) of 253 in the placebo group had the primary outcome of a favourable functional outcome using the prespecified sliding dichotomy at 90 days (adjusted odds ratio 1·05, 95% CI 0·73–1·51; adjusted risk ratio 1·04, 95% CI 0·85–1·25). In the 302 patients with ischaemic stroke, the favourable functional outcome adjusted for arrival NIHSS and age favoured nerinetide (odds ratio 1·53, 0·93–2·52 and risk ratio 1·21, 0·97–1·52). In those given reperfusion therapies (thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy, or both) nerinetide was associated with improved favourable functional outcomes (adjusted odds ratio 1·84, 1·03–3·28; adjusted risk ratio 1·29, 1·01–1·65). There was no apparent benefit in haemorrhagic stroke or acute ischaemic stroke without reperfusion. There were no safety concerns. Prehospital nerinetide did not improve neurological functional outcomes in all patients with suspected ischaemic stroke in the mITT population. Nerinetide might benefit patients with acute ischaemic stroke who are selected for reperfusion therapies within 3 h of symptom onset. This finding should be confirmed in a future trial. Brain Canada and NoNO.

[...]the development of stroke systems of care (site designation, bypass, and transfer) is paramount to improved stroke outcomes. [...]the recognition of transient ischemic attack (TIA) as “unstable angina of the brain” is reflected in the guidelines, and the need to apply risk stratification to TIA patients is endorsed. [...]despite the pragmatic approach and clarity of risk stratification for TIA and minor stroke presented in these guidelines, this risk stratification approach has not yet been proven in clinical trials.

This study aimed to identify major determinants of the cost of road traffic (RT) injuries, rank their importance, and assess their effects on different quantiles of cost distribution. This study analyzed data collected from 1372 Canadian RT survivors from July 2018 to March 2020. Costs, including healthcare and lost productivity costs over a year following RT injury, were estimated for each participant in 2023 Canadian dollars. Productivity loss was measured using the Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire. We considered 24 potential determinants of costs, which were grouped into five domains: sociodemographic, psychological, health, crash, and injury factors assessed during baseline interview. We employed a quantile regression forests machine learning approach alongside classical quantile regression to analyze costs. These methods were selected to capture heterogeneous effects across cost distribution, which are overlooked by traditional mean-based models, and to inform policy decisions targeting high-cost subgroup. The results showed that the 10th, 50th, and 90th quantiles of costs were $1,141.9, $7,403.1, and $49,537.5, respectively. ISS, GCS, and age were the top three influential variables among low-cost, medium-cost, and high-cost patients. ISS, GCS, age, sex, employment status, and living situation were common major determinants at all quantiles. Ethnicity was selected as an important determinant at the 50th and 90th quantiles. Education level, years lived in Canada, somatic symptoms severity, psychological distress, HRQoL, road user type, and head, torso, spine/back, and lower extremity injuries were selected only for high-cost patients (90th quantile). Classical quantile regression showed that selected major predictors disproportionately affected low-cost, middle-cost and high-cost patients. High-cost patients were more likely to be older, retired, less educated, and have worse clinical and psychological indicators. These insights can guide targeted prevention and resource allocation strategies to reduce the economic burden of RT injuries.

The present study reports the prevalence of acute post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (2 months post-injury) and chronic PTSD symptoms (6 and 12 months post-injury) among road trauma survivors. We also examine baseline factors as potential predictors of acute and chronic PTSD symptoms post-injury. This study followed a prospective cohort, enrolling 1480 survivors in Canada, between July 2018 and March 2020. PTSD symptoms were measured with the Post-traumatic Check-List Scale (PCL-S) at 2, 6, and 12 months post-injury. Baseline sociodemographic, psychological, medical, and injury-related factors were examined as predictors of acute and long-term PTSD symptoms using multivariable logistic regression. PTSD symptoms were reported by 241 of 1074 participants (22.4%) at 2 months, 167 of 935 (17.9%) at 6 months, and 141 of 872 (16.2%) at 12 months. Female sex, Asian ethnicity, more retrospectively reported pre-injury somatic symptoms, greater pre-injury psychological distress, and being a pedestrian (vs a driver) were consistently linked to higher odds of PTSD symptoms at 2 and 6 months. At 2 months, younger age, greater pre-injury pain catastrophizing, uncertain recovery expectations, and head or spine/back injuries were additional significant predictors, while by 6 months, having neck injury remained significant. By 12 months, chronic PTSD symptoms was associated with greater pre-injury pain catastrophizing, lower pre-injury health-related quality of life, and spine/back injury. Injury pain remained a predictor across all follow-ups. PTSD symptom prevalence among survivors decreased between 2 and 6 months post-injury, but recovery rate slowed thereafter, with reduction between 6 and 12 months being much smaller than the earlier decrease. Furthermore, as some significant factors are modifiable, early interventions-such as effective pain management, psychological support, and coping strategy training-may help mitigate PTSD symptoms. Brief screening for psychological distress and pain catastrophizing could further support timely identification and referral of high-risk patients.

Background Patients with cardiometabolic disease, specifically, stroke, heart disease and diabetes have a high prevalence of polypharmacy. Interventions to better manage or reduce polypharmacy in these populations may help improve patient outcomes. However, there is a paucity of data in this area, which needs to be investigated. Aim of the review The purpose of this scoping review was to identify and synthesize the available evidence pertaining to polypharmacy interventions in patients with cardiometabolic disease(s) and to determine what outcomes measures are assessed in these studies. Methods We followed an evidence-based scoping review guiding framework to address our study objectives. Three electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL) were searched for all relevant studies up to May 2019. The Cochrane Library was also searched; studies included in relevant reviews were screened for inclusion. Reference lists of all included papers were also manually reviewed to identify additional articles. Polypharmacy interventions and measures used to assess efficacy were qualitatively described. Results Overall, six studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of interventions were clinical pharmacist interventions reporting on a variety of outcomes including surrogate markers, quality of life and patient satisfaction, drug-related problems, and healthcare utilization and costs. The findings from the included studies generally indicated positive effects but had high risk of bias. Conclusions Existing polypharmacy interventions have some efficacy at improving a variety of patient and healthcare system outcomes. Increased frequency and duration of follow-up with patients led to significant improvements in quality of life, disease control and cost-savings in outpatient and in-patient settings. However, our analysis of the identified studies suggests low-quality evidence and significant knowledge gaps regarding patients with stroke and cardiometabolic multimorbidity. This signals a need for further high-quality research to both confirm these findings and include these other high-risk patient populations to validate these findings.

Emergency physicians play an important role in providing care at the end-of-life as well as identifying patients who may benefit from a palliative approach. Several studies have shown that emergency medicine (EM) residents desire further training in palliative care. We performed a national cross-sectional survey of EM program directors. Our primary objective was to describe the number of Canadian postgraduate EM training programs with palliative and end-of-life care curricula. A 15-question survey in English and French was sent by email to all program directors of both the Canadian College of Family Physicians emergency medicine (CCFP(EM)) and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada emergency medicine (RCPSC-EM) postgraduate training programs countrywide using FluidSurveys™ with a modified Dillman approach. We received a total of 26 responses from the 36 (response rate = 72.2%) EM postgraduate programs in Canada. Ten out of 26 (38.5%) programs had a structured educational program pertaining to palliative and end-of-life care. Lectures or seminars were the exclusive choice to teach content. Clinical palliative medicine rotations were mandatory in one out of 26 (3.8%) programs. The top two barriers to implementation of palliative and end-of-life care curricula were lack of time (84.6%) and curriculum development concerns (80.8%). Palliative and end-of-life care training within EM has been identified as an area of need. This cross-sectional survey demonstrates that a minority of Canadian EM programs have palliative and end-of-life care curricula. It will be important for all EM training programs, RCPSC-EM and CCFP(EM), in Canada, to develop an agreed upon set of competencies and to structure their curricula around them.

Stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) are common disorders treated by Canadian emergency physicians. The diagnosis and management of these conditions is time-sensitive and complex, requiring that emergency physicians have adequate training. This study sought to determine the extent of stroke and TIA training in Canadian emergency medicine residency programs. A two-page survey was emailed to directors of all English-speaking emergency medicine residency programs in Canada. This included both the Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada (FRCPC) and the College of Family Physicians Enhanced Training [CCFP(EM)] residency programs. The number of mandatory and elective rotations, lectures, and examinations relevant to stroke and TIA were assessed. Nine FRCPC programs responded (of 11; RR=82%) and 11 CCFP(EM) programs responded (of 18; RR=61%), representing 20 of 29 programs in Canada (RR: 20/29=69%). Mandatory general neurology (3/9) and stroke neurology (2/9) rotations were offered in a minority of FRCPC programs and not at all in CCFP(EM) programs (0/11). Neuroradiology rotations were mandatory in 1/9 FRCPC programs and no CCFP(EM) programs (0/11). Acute ischemic stroke was allocated 3 hours of lecture time per year in all residency programs, regardless of route of training. Despite the fact that 100% of respondents train residents in facilities that administer thrombolysis for stroke, only 1/11 (9%) CCFP(EM) programs and 0/9 FRCPC programs have residents act as stroke team leaders. Formal training in stroke and TIA is limited in Canadian emergency medicine residency programs. Enhanced training opportunities should be developed as this disease is sudden, life-threatening, and can have disabling or fatal consequences, and therapeutic options are time sensitive.

The Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations suggests that patients suspected of transient ischemic attack (TIA)/minor stroke receive urgent brain imaging, preferably computed tomography angiography (CTA). Yet, high requisition rates for non-cerebrovascular patients overburden limited radiological resources, putting patients at risk. We hypothesize that our clinical decision support tool (CDST) developed for risk stratification of TIA in the emergency department (ED), and which incorporates Canadian guidelines, could improve CTA utilization. Retrospective study design with clinical information gathered from ED patient referrals to an outpatient TIA unit in Victoria, BC, from 2015-2016. Actual CTA orders by ED and TIA unit staff were compared to hypothetical CTA ordering if our CDST had been used in the ED upon patient arrival. For 1,679 referrals, clinicians ordered 954 CTAs. Our CDST would have ordered a total of 977 CTAs for these patients. Overall, this would have increased the number of imaged-TIA patients by 89 (10.1%) while imaging 98 (16.1%) fewer non-cerebrovascular patients over the 2-year period. Our CDST would have ordered CTA for 18 (78.3%) of the recurrent stroke patients in the sample. Our CDST could enhance CTA utilization in the ED for suspected TIA patients, and facilitate guideline-based stroke care. Use of our CDST would increase the number of TIA patients receiving CTA before ED discharge (rather than later at TIA units) and reduce the burden of imaging stroke mimics in radiological departments.