Virtual Versus In-Person Follow-up After a Psychiatric Emergency Visit: A Population-Based Cohort Study: Suivi virtuel opposé à en personne après une visite à l'urgence psychiatrique : une étude de cohorte dans la population.

OBJECTIVE: With increased utilization of virtual care in mental health, examining its appropriateness in various clinical scenarios is warranted. This study aimed to compare the risk of adverse psychiatric outcomes following virtual versus in-person mental health follow-up care after a psychiatric emergency department (ED) visit. METHODS: Using population-based health administrative data in Ontario (2021), we identified 28,232 adults discharged from a psychiatric ED visit who had a follow-up mental health visit within 14 days postdischarge. We compared those whose first follow-up visit was virtual (telephone or video) versus in-person on their risk for experiencing either a repeat psychiatric ED visit, psychiatric hospitalization, intentional self-injury, or suicide in the 15-90 days post-ED visit. Cox proportional hazard models generated adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for age, income quintile, psychiatric hospitalization, and intentional self-injury in the 2 years prior to ED visit. We stratified by sex and diagnosis at index ED visits based on the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Canada (ICD-10-CA) coding. RESULTS: About 65% (n = 18,354) of first follow-up visits were virtual, while 35% (n = 9,878) were in-person. About 13.9% and 14.6% of the virtual and in-person groups, respectively, experienced the composite outcome, corresponding to incidence rates of 60.9 versus 74.2 per 1000 person-years (aHR 0.95, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.01). Results were similar for individual elements of the composite outcome, when stratifying by sex and index psychiatric diagnosis, when varying exposure (7 days) and outcome periods (60 and 30 days), and comparing "only" virtual versus "any" in-person follow-up during the 14-day follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: These results support virtual care as a modality to increase access to follow-up after an acute care psychiatric encounter across a wide range of diagnoses. Prospective trials to discern whether this is due to the comparable efficacy of virtual and in-person care, or due solely to appropriate patient selection may be warranted.

Clinical evaluation of a machine learning-based early warning system for patient deterioration.

BACKGROUND: The implementation and clinical impact of machine learning-based early warning systems for patient deterioration in hospitals have not been well described. We sought to describe the implementation and evaluation of a multifaceted, real-time, machine learning-based early warning system for patient deterioration used in the general internal medicine (GIM) unit of an academic medical centre. METHODS: In this nonrandomized, controlled study, we evaluated the association between the implementation of a machine learning-based early warning system and clinical outcomes. We used propensity score-based overlap weighting to compare patients in the GIM unit during the intervention period (Nov. 1, 2020, to June 1, 2022) to those admitted during the pre-intervention period (Nov. 1, 2016, to June 1, 2020). In a difference-indifferences analysis, we compared patients in the GIM unit with those in the cardiology, respirology, and nephrology units who did not receive the intervention. We retrospectively calculated system predictions for each patient in the control cohorts, although alerts were sent to clinicians only during the intervention period for patients in GIM. The primary outcome was non-palliative in-hospital death. RESULTS: The study included 13 649 patient admissions in GIM and 8470 patient admissions in subspecialty units. Non-palliative deaths were significantly lower in the intervention period than the pre-intervention period among patients in GIM (1.6% v. 2.1%; adjusted relative risk [RR] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55-1.00) but not in the subspecialty cohorts (1.9% v. 2.1%; adjusted RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.63-1.28). Among high-risk patients in GIM for whom the system triggered at least 1 alert, the proportion of non-palliative deaths was 7.1% in the intervention period, compared with 10.3% in the pre-intervention period (adjusted RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.46-1.02), with no meaningful difference in subspecialty cohorts (10.4% v. 10.6%; adjusted RR 0.98, 95% CI 0.60-1.59). In the difference-indifferences analysis, the adjusted relative risk reduction for non-palliative death in GIM was 0.79 (95% CI 0.50-1.24). INTERPRETATION: Implementing a machine learning-based early warning system in the GIM unit was associated with lower risk of non-palliative death than in the pre-intervention period. Machine learning-based early warning systems are promising technologies for improving clinical outcomes.

Impact of being taken into out-of-home care: a longitudinal cohort study of First Nations and other child welfare agencies in Manitoba, Canada.

Background: Across Canada, Child Protection Services (CPS) disrupt Indigenous families by apprehending their children at alarmingly high rates. The harms borne by children in out-of-home care (OoHC) have been extensively documented. We examined the impact of OoHC on Manitoba children's health and legal system outcomes to provide rigorous evidence on how discretionary decision-making by CPS agencies can affect these outcomes. Methods: In partnership with First Nations researchers, we used linked administrative data to identify Manitoba children (born 2007-2018) served by First Nations and other Manitoba CPS agencies. We compared those taken into OoHC (n = 19,324) with those never in care but with an open CPS file due to child protection concerns (n = 27,290). We used instrumental variable analysis (CPS agency rates of OoHC as the instrument) to obtain odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals adjusted for child, maternal, and family factors. Findings: Mean age (yrs ± standard deviation) at first CPS contact for children taken into OoHC was 2.8 ± 3.7 (First Nations) and 3.0 ± 3.8 (other), and for children never in care was 4.5 ± 4.5 (First Nations) and 5.1 ± 4.7 (other). Among children served by a First Nations agency, males made up 50.6% (n = 5496) in OoHC and 51.0% (n = 6579) never in care. Among children served by other agencies, males made up 51.0% (n = 4324) in OoHC and 51.0% (n = 7428) never in care. Odds of teen pregnancy (First Nations aOR 3.69, 1.40-9.77; other aOR 5.10, 1.83-14.25), teen birth (First Nations aOR 3.23, 1.10-9.49; other aOR 5.06, 1.70-15.03), and sexually transmitted infections (other aOR 7.21, 3.63-14.32) were higher for children in care than children never in care, as were odds of being accused (other aOR 2.71, 1.27-5.75), a victim (other aOR 1.68, 1.10-2.56), charged with a crime (other aOR 2.68, 1.21-5.96), or incarcerated (First Nations aOR 3.64, 1.95-6.80; other aOR 1.19, 1.19-8.04). Interpretation: Being in OoHC worsened children's health and legal system outcomes. The importance of reducing the number of children taken into care was emphasized in briefings to provincial and First Nations governments. The government response will be monitored. Funding: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (no. 890-2018-0029).

Public funding for private for-profit centres and access to cataract surgery by patient socioeconomic status: an Ontario population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Public funding of cataract surgery provided in private, for-profit surgical centres increased to help mitigate surgical backlogs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada. We sought to compare the socioeconomic status of patients who underwent cataract surgery in not-for-profit public hospitals with those who underwent this surgery in private for-profit surgical centres and to evaluate whether differences in access by socioeconomic status decreased after the infusion of public funding for private, for-profit centres. METHODS: We conducted a population-based study of all cataract operations in Ontario, Canada, between January 2017 and March 2022. We analyzed differences in socioeconomic status among patients who accessed surgery at not-for-profit public hospitals versus those who accessed it at private for-profit surgical centres before and during the period of expanded public funding for private for-profit centres. RESULTS: Overall, 935 729 cataract surgeries occurred during the study period. Within private for-profit surgical centres, the rate of cataract surgeries rose 22.0% during the funding change period for patients in the highest socioeconomic status quintile, whereas, for patients in the lowest socioeconomic status quintile, the rate fell 8.5%. In contrast, within public hospitals, the rate of surgery decreased similarly among patients of all quintiles of socioeconomic status. During the funding change period, 92 809 fewer cataract operations were performed than expected. This trend was associated with socioeconomic status, particularly within private for-profit surgical centres, where patients with the highest socioeconomic status were the only group to have an increase in cataract operations. INTERPRETATION: After increased public funding for private, for-profit surgical centres, patient socioeconomic status was associated with access to cataract surgery in these centres, but not in public hospitals. Addressing the factors underlying this incongruity is vital to ensure access to surgery and maintain public confidence in the cataract surgery system.

Pediatric Respiratory Syncytial Virus Hospitalizations, 2017-2023.

Importance: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) transmission was disrupted worldwide following the COVID-19 pandemic, and further study is required to better understand these changes. Objective: To compare observed and expected RSV hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admission rates and characteristics of admitted children during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons. Design, Setting, and Participants: A population-based cohort study of all children aged younger than 5 years in Ontario, Canada, July 1, 2017, through March 31, 2023, was conducted. Exposures: Individual and neighborhood-level sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were identified from administrative data, including age, palivizumab eligibility, complex medical conditions, rurality, and living in a marginalized neighborhood. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcome was RSV-associated hospitalization. Secondary outcomes included ICU admissions, mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and in-hospital death. Poisson generalized estimating equations were used to model weekly age- and sex-specific hospitalization rates and estimate expected rates in the postpandemic era; adjusted rate ratios (RRs) and 95% CIs are reported. Results: This cohort study included approximately 700 000 children per study year. Compared with prepandemic years (2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020), the 2021-2022 RSV season peaked slightly earlier, but overall admission rates were comparable (289.1 vs 281.4-334.6 per 100 000, or approximately 2000 admissions). The 2022-2023 season peaked a month earlier and resulted in more than twice as many hospitalizations (770.0 per 100 000; n = 4977 admissions). The proportion of children admitted to an ICU in 2022-2023 (13.9%) was slightly higher than prepandemic (9.6%-11.4%); however, the population-based rate was triple the prepandemic levels (106.9 vs 27.6-36.6 per 100 000 children in Ontario). With the exception of palivizumab-eligible children, all sociodemographic and health status characteristics were associated with lower-than-expected RSV hospitalization rates in 2021-2022. In contrast, older age of patients was associated with higher-than-expected rates in 2022-2023 (ie, 24-59 months: RR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.35-2.66). Conclusions and Relevance: There were notable differences in RSV epidemiologic characteristics in Ontario following the COVID-19 pandemic. It is not yet clear whether and how long atypical RSV epidemics may persist. Clinicians and program planners should consider the potential for ongoing impacts to health care capacity and RSV immunization programs.

Newborn readmissions and virtual primary care delivery: a population-based case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Early post-discharge assessments for newborns are recommended. Virtual care has become more prevalent during the pandemic, providing an opportunity to better understand its impact on the quality of post-discharge newborn care. The objective of this study was to understand whether primary care visit modality (in-person vs. virtual) is associated with early newborn hospital readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits. METHODS: We conducted a population-based, case-control study using linked health administrative databases between September 1, 2020 and March 31, 2022 in Ontario, Canada. We compared the modality of primary care visits among cases (hospital readmission within 14 days of life) and controls (newborns without a readmission), matched on infant sex, gestational age, and maternal parity. We included an alternative definition of cases as a composite of either a newborn hospital readmission or emergency department (ED) visit or in-hospital death within the first 14 days of life. Conditional logistic regression models were used to model odds ratios (ORs), comparing those exposed to a virtual visit versus in-person visit, adjusting for infant birth weight, birth hospitalization length of stay, neighbourhood level material deprivation, rurality and presence of active maternal comorbidities. RESULTS: Among 73,324 eligible newborns, 2,220 experienced a hospital readmission within 14 days of life and were matched to 8,880 controls. Jaundice was the primary reason for readmission (75% of readmissions). Compared to newborns who were seen in-person post-discharge, newborns who were seen virtually had higher odds of hospital readmission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.41 (95% CI 1.09, 1.83); the magnitude of effect was not different using the composite outcome (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05, 1.75). CONCLUSIONS: Newborns who receive a virtual post-discharge visit are more likely than those who receive an in-person visit to require hospital readmission.

Hospital volume-outcome relationships for robot-assisted surgeries: a population-based analysis.

BACKGROUND: Associations between procedure volumes and outcomes can inform minimum volume standards and the regionalization of health services. Robot-assisted surgery continues to expand globally; however, data are limited regarding which hospitals should be using the technology. STUDY DESIGN: Using administrative health data for all residents of Ontario, Canada, this retrospective cohort study included adult patients who underwent a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP), total robotic hysterectomy (TRH), robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN), or robotic portal lobectomy using 4 arms (RPL-4) between January 2010 and September 2021. Associations between yearly hospital volumes and 90-day major complications were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for patient characteristics and clustering at the level of the hospital. RESULTS: A total of 10,879 patients were included, with 7567, 1776, 724, and 812 undergoing a RARP, TRH, RAPN, and RPL-4, respectively. Yearly hospital volume was not associated with 90-day complications for any procedure. Doubling of yearly volume was associated with a 17-min decrease in operative time for RARP (95% confidence interval [CI] - 23 to - 10), 8-min decrease for RAPN (95% CI - 14 to - 2), 24-min decrease for RPL-4 (95% CI - 29 to - 19), and no significant change for TRH (- 7 min; 95% CI - 17 to 3). CONCLUSION: The risk of 90-day major complications does not appear to be higher in low volume hospitals; however, they may not be as efficient with operating room utilization. Careful case selection may have contributed to the lack of an observed association between volumes and complications.

COVID-19 hospitalization, mortality and pre-mature mortality by a history of immigration in Ontario, Canada: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Immigrants in high-income countries experienced inequities in COVID-19 severe outcomes. We examined hospitalization and death throughout the pandemic, and change during the vaccine era, in Ontario, Canada. Methods: We conducted a population-based study using linked immigration and health data, following two cohorts for 20 months from January 1, 2020 (pre-vaccine) and September 1, 2021 (vaccine era). We used multivariable Poisson generalized estimating equation regression to estimate adjusted rate ratios (aRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), accounting for age, sex and co-morbidities. We calculated age-standardized years of life lost (ASYRs) rates by immigrant category. Findings: Of 11,692,387 community-dwelling adults in the pre-vaccine era cohort and 11,878,304 community-dwelling adults in the vaccine era cohort, 21.6% and 21.4% of adults in each era respectively were immigrants. Females accounted for 57.9% and 57.8% of sponsored family, and 68.4% and 67.6% of economic caregivers, in each era respectively. Compared to other Ontarians in the pre-vaccine era cohort, hospitalization rates were highest for refugees (aRR [95% CI] 3.41 [3.39-3.44]) and caregivers (3.13 [3.07-3.18]), followed by sponsored family and other economic immigrants. Compared to other Ontarians, aRRs were highest for immigrants from Central America (5.00 [4.92-5.09]), parts of South Asia (3.95 [3.89-4.01]) and Jamaica (3.56 [3.51-3.61]) with East Asians having lower aRRs. Mortality aRRs were similar to hospitalization aRRs. In the vaccine era, all aRRs were attenuated and most were similar to or lower than other Ontarians, with refugees and a few regions maintaining higher rates. In the pre-vaccine era ASYRs were higher for all immigrant groups. ASYRs dropped in the vaccine era with only refugees continuing to have higher rates. Interpretation: Immigrants, particularly refugees, experienced greater premature mortality. aRRs for most immigrant groups dropped substantially after high vaccine coverage was achieved. Vaccine outreach and improvements in the social determinants of health are needed. Funding: Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canada Research Chairs Program.

Postpartum Emergency Department Use Following Midwifery-Model vs Obstetrics-Model Care.

Importance: Emergency department (ED) use postpartum is a common and often-preventable event. Unlike traditional obstetrics models, the Ontario midwifery model offers early care postpartum. Objective: To assess whether postpartum ED use differs between women who received perinatal care in midwifery-model care vs in traditional obstetrics-model care. Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective population-based cohort study took place in Ontario, Canada, where public health care is universally funded. Participants included women who were low risk and primiparous and gave birth to a live baby in an Ontario hospital between 2012 and 2018. Data were collected from April 2012 to March 2018 and analyzed from June 2022 to April 2023. Exposures: Perinatal care clinician, namely, a midwife or obstetrician. Main Outcome and Measures: : Any unscheduled ED visit 42 days postpartum or less. Poisson regression models compared ED use between women with midwifery-model care vs obstetrics-model care, weighting by propensity score-based overlap weights. Results: Among 104 995 primiparous women aged 11 to 50 years, those in midwifery-model care received a median (IQR) of 7 (6-8) postpartum visits, compared with 0 (0-1) visits among those receiving obstetrics-model care. Unscheduled ED visits 42 days or less postpartum occurred for 1549 of 23 124 women (6.7%) with midwifery-model care compared with 6902 of 81 871 women (8.4%) with traditional obstetrics-model care (adjusted relative risks [aRR], 0.78; 95% CI, 0.73-0.83). Similar aRRs were seen in women with a spontaneous vaginal birth (aRR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.65-0.78) or assisted vaginal birth (aRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.59-0.82) but not those with a cesarean birth (aRR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.86-1.03) or those with intrapartum transfer of care between a midwife and obstetrician (aRR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.87-1.04). ED use 7 days or less postpartum was also lower among women receiving midwifery model care (aRR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.65-0.77). Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, midwifery-model care was associated with less postpartum ED use than traditional obstetrics-model care among women who had low risk and were primiparous, which may be due to early access to postpartum care provided by Ontario midwives.

The relationship between relational continuity and family physician follow-up after an antidepressant prescription in older adults: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Side effects can occur within hours to days of starting antidepressant medications, whereas full therapeutic benefit for mood typically takes up to four weeks. This mismatch between time to harm and lag to benefit often leads to premature discontinuation of antidepressants, a phenomenon that can be partially reversed through early doctor-patient communication and follow-up. We investigated the relationship between relational continuity of care - the number of years family physicians have cared for older adult patients - and early follow-up care for patients prescribed antidepressants. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on residents of Ontario, Canada aged 66 years or older who were dispensed their first antidepressant prescription through the provincial drug insurance program between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2019. The study utilized multivariable regression to estimate the relationship between relational continuity and 30-day follow-up with the prescribing family physician. Separate estimates were generated for older adults living in urban, non-major urban, and rural communities. RESULTS: The study found a small positive relationship between relational continuity of care and follow-up care by the prescribing family physician for patients dispensed a first antidepressant prescription (RRR = 1.005; 95% CI = 1.004, 1.006). The relationship was moderated by the patients' location of dwelling, where the effect was stronger for older adults residing in non-major urban (RRR = 1.009; 95% CI = 1.007, 1.012) and rural communities (RRR = 1.006; 95% CI = 1.002, 1.011). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not provide strong evidence of a relationship between relational continuity of care and higher quality management of antidepressant prescriptions. However, the relationship is slightly more pronounced in rural communities where access to continuous primary care and specialized mental health services is more limited. This may support the ongoing need for the recruitment and retention of primary care providers in rural communities.

Hyponatremia-associated hospital visits are not reduced by early electrolyte testing in older adults starting antidepressants.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines recommend early serum electrolyte monitoring when starting antidepressants in older adults due to the increased risk of hyponatremia. It is unclear whether this monitoring improves outcomes. METHODS: Population-based, retrospective cohort study of Ontario adults aged ≥66 years who initiated therapy with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) between April 1, 2013, and January 31, 2020. The index date was the date of the first such prescription, and the exposure of interest was serum electrolyte measurement during the subsequent 7 days. The primary outcome was any emergency department or hospital admission with hyponatremia within 8-60 days of antidepressant initiation. Poisson regression models compared individuals who had versus did not have their serum electrolytes tested in the week following SSRI/SNRI initiation, weighting by propensity score-based overlap weights. RESULTS: Among the 420,085 patients aged ≥66 years initiating treatment with an SSRI/SNRI, 26,808 (6.4%) had serum electrolytes measured in the subsequent 7 days and 6109 (1.5%) subsequently presented to hospital with hyponatremia. The time from drug initiation to hospitalization varied (median 29, interquartile range [IQR] 17-44 days), and the median sodium concentration measured in the community (136, IQR 133-138 mmol/L) was marginally higher than those at the time of hospitalization (132, IQR 130-134 mmol/L). Patients who underwent electrolyte testing in the week following SSRI/SNRI treatment were more likely to attend an emergency department (ED) or hospital with hyponatremia within 8-60 days relative to those who did not (relative risk = 2.31, 95% confidence interval: 2.16-2.46). CONCLUSIONS: Testing serum electrolytes in the week after starting an SSRI/SNRI is not associated with a reduced risk of a hospital visit with hyponatremia. These findings do not support current guidelines recommending routine electrolyte monitoring.

Association of virtual end-of-life care with healthcare outcomes before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A population-based study.

The use of virtual care for people at the end-of-life significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its association with acute healthcare use and location of death is unknown. The objective of this study was to measure the association between the use of virtual end-of-life care with acute healthcare use and an out-of-hospital death before vs. after the introduction of specialized fee codes that enabled broader delivery of virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a population-based cohort study of 323,995 adults in their last 90 days of life between January 25, 2018 and December 31, 2021 using health administrative data in Ontario, Canada. Primary outcomes were acute healthcare use (emergency department, hospitalization) and location of death (in or out-of-hospital). Prior to March 14, 2020, 13,974 (8%) people received at least 1 virtual end-of-life care visit, which was associated with a 16% higher rate of emergency department use (adjusted Rate Ratio [aRR] 1.16, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.20), a 17% higher rate of hospitalization (aRR 1.17, 95%CI 1.15 to 1.20), and a 34% higher risk of an out-of-hospital death (aRR 1.34, 95%CI 1.31 to 1.37) compared to people who did not receive virtual end-of-life care. After March 14, 2020, 104,165 (71%) people received at least 1 virtual end-of-life care visit, which was associated with a 58% higher rate of an emergency department visit (aRR 1.58, 95%CI 1.54 to 1.62), a 45% higher rate of hospitalization (aRR 1.45, 95%CI 1.42 to 1.47), and a 65% higher risk of an out-of-hospital death (aRR 1.65, 95%CI 1.61 to 1.69) compared to people who did not receive virtual end-of-life care. The use of virtual end-of-life care was associated with higher acute healthcare use in the last 90 days of life and a higher likelihood of dying out-of-hospital, and these rates increased during the pandemic.

Attending physicians' annual service volume and use of virtual end-of-life care: A population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada.

IMPORTANCE: Physicians and their practice behaviors influence access to healthcare and may represent potentially modifiable targets for practice-changing interventions. Use of virtual care at the end-of-life significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but its association with physician practice behaviors, (e.g., annual service volume) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: Measure the association of physicians' annual service volume with their use of virtual end-of-life care (EOLC) and the magnitude of physician-attributable variation in its use, before and during the pandemic. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based cohort study using administrative data of all physicians in Ontario, Canada who cared for adults in the last 90 days of life between 01/25/2018-12/31/2021. Multivariable modified Poisson regression models measured the association between attending physicians' use of virtual EOLC and their annual service volume. We calculated the variance partition coefficients for each regression and stratified by time period before and during the pandemic. EXPOSURE: Annual service volume of a person's attending physician in the preceding year. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Delivery of ≥1 virtual EOLC visit by a person's attending physician and the proportion of variation in its use attributable to physicians. RESULTS: Among the 35,825 unique attending physicians caring for 315,494 adults, use of virtual EOLC was associated with receiving care from a high compared to low service volume attending physician; the magnitude of this association diminished during the pandemic (adjusted RR 1.25 [95% CI 1.14, 1.37] pre-pandemic;1.10 (95% CI 1.08, 1.12) during the pandemic). Physicians accounted for 36% of the variation in virtual EOLC use pre-pandemic and 12% of this variation during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Physicians' annual service volume was associated with use of virtual EOLC and physicians accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in its use. Physicians may be appropriate and potentially modifiable targets for interventions to modulate use of EOLC delivery.

Variation in the Care of Children with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Within and Across Canadian Provinces: A Multi-Province Population-Based Cohort Study.

Purpose: The incidence of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rising. We described variation in health services utilization and need for surgery among children with IBD between six and 60 months following IBD diagnosis across Canadian pediatric centers and evaluated the associations between care provided at diagnosis at each center and the variation in these outcomes. Patients and Methods: Using population-based deterministically-linked health administrative data from four Canadian provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario) we identified children diagnosed with IBD <16 years of age using validated algorithms. Children were assigned to a pediatric center of care using a hierarchical approach based on where they received their initial care. Outcomes included IBD-related hospitalizations, emergency department (ED) visits, and IBD-related abdominal surgery occurring between 6 and sixty months after diagnosis. Mixed-effects meta-analysis was used to pool results and examine the association between center-level care provision and outcomes. Results: We identified 3784 incident cases of pediatric IBD, of whom 2937 (77.6%) were treated at pediatric centers. Almost a third (31.4%) of children had ≥1 IBD-related hospitalization and there were 0.66 hospitalizations per person during follow-up. More than half (55.8%) of children had ≥1 ED visit and there were 1.64 ED visits per person. Between-center heterogeneity was high for both outcomes; centers where more children visited the ED at diagnosis had more IBD-related hospitalizations and more ED visits during follow-up. Between-center heterogeneity was high for intestinal resection in Crohn's disease but not colectomy in ulcerative colitis. Conclusion: There is variation in health services utilization among children with IBD and risk of undergoing intestinal resection in those with Crohn's disease, but not colectomy among children with ulcerative colitis, across Canadian pediatric tertiary-care centers. Improvements in clinical care pathways are needed to ensure all children have equitable and timely access to high quality care.

Sex-Based Disparities in Acute Myocardial Infarction Treatment Patterns and Outcomes in Older Adults Hospitalized Across 6 High-Income Countries: An Analysis From the International Health Systems Research Collaborative.

BACKGROUND: Sex differences in acute myocardial infarction treatment and outcomes are well documented, but it is unclear whether differences are consistent across countries. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology, use of interventional procedures, and outcomes for older females and males hospitalized with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) in 6 diverse countries. METHODS: We conducted a serial cross-sectional cohort study of 1 508 205 adults aged ≥66 years hospitalized with STEMI and NSTEMI between 2011 and 2018 in the United States, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Taiwan, and Israel using administrative data. We compared females and males within each country with respect to age-standardized hospitalization rates, rates of cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery within 90 days of hospitalization, and 30-day age- and comorbidity-adjusted mortality. RESULTS: Hospitalization rates for STEMI and NSTEMI decreased between 2011 and 2018 in all countries, although the hospitalization rate ratio (rate in males/rate in females) increased in virtually all countries (eg, US STEMI ratio, 1.58:1 in 2011 and 1.73:1 in 2018; Israel NSTEMI ratio, 1.71:1 in 2011 and 2.11:1 in 2018). Rates of cardiac catheterization, percutaneous coronary intervention, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery were lower for females than males for STEMI in all countries and years (eg, US cardiac catheterization in 2018, 88.6% for females versus 91.5% for males; Israel percutaneous coronary intervention in 2018, 76.7% for females versus 84.8% for males) with similar findings for NSTEMI. Adjusted mortality for STEMI in 2018 was higher for females than males in 5 countries (the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Israel, and Taiwan) but lower for females than males in 5 countries for NSTEMI. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a larger decline in acute myocardial infarction hospitalizations for females than males between 2011 and 2018. Females were less likely to receive cardiac interventions and had higher mortality after STEMI. Sex disparities seem to transcend borders, raising questions about the underlying causes and remedies.

Hospital-Level NICU Capacity, Utilization, and 30-Day Outcomes in Texas.

Importance: Risk-adjusted neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) utilization and outcomes vary markedly across regions and hospitals. The causes of this variation are poorly understood. Objective: To assess the association of hospital-level NICU bed capacity with utilization and outcomes in newborn cohorts with differing levels of health risk. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based retrospective cohort study included all Medicaid-insured live births in Texas from 2010 to 2014 using linked vital records and maternal and newborn claims data. Participants were Medicaid-insured singleton live births (LBs) with birth weights of at least 400 g and gestational ages between 22 and 44 weeks. Newborns were grouped into 3 cohorts: very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g), late preterm (LPT; 34-36 weeks' gestation), and nonpreterm newborns (NPT; ≥37 weeks' gestation). Data analysis was conducted from January 2022 to October 2023. Exposure: Hospital NICU capacity measured as reported NICU beds/100 LBs, adjusted (ie, allocated) for transfers. Main Outcomes and Measures: NICU admissions and special care days; inpatient mortality and 30-day postdischarge adverse events (ie, mortality, emergency department visit, admission, observation stay). Results: The overall cohort of 874 280 single LBs included 9938 VLBW (5054 [50.9%] female; mean [SD] birth weight, 1028.9 [289.6] g; mean [SD] gestational age, 27.6 [2.6] wk), 63 160 LPT (33 684 [53.3%] female; mean [SD] birth weight, 2664.0 [409.4] g; mean [SD] gestational age, 35.4 [0.8] wk), and 801 182 NPT (407 977 [50.9%] female; mean [SD] birth weight, 3318.7 [383.4] g; mean [SD] gestational age, 38.9 [1.0] wk) LBs. Median (IQR) NICU capacity was 0.84 (0.57-1.30) allocated beds/100 LB/year. For VLBW newborns, NICU capacity was not associated with the risk of NICU admission or number of special care days. For LPT newborns, birth in hospitals with the highest compared with the lowest category of capacity was associated with a 17% higher risk of NICU admission (adjusted risk ratio [aRR], 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01-1.33). For NPT newborns, risk of NICU admission was 55% higher (aRR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.22-1.97) in the highest- vs the lowest-capacity hospitals. The number of special care days for LPT and NPT newborns was 21% (aRR, 1.21; 95% CI,1.08-1.36) and 37% (aRR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.08-1.74) higher in the highest vs lowest capacity hospitals, respectively. Among LPT and NPT newborns, NICU capacity was associated with higher inpatient mortality and 30-day postdischarge adverse events. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of Medicaid-insured newborns in Texas, greater hospital NICU bed supply was associated with increased NICU utilization in newborns born LPT and NPT. Higher capacity was not associated with lower risk of adverse events. These findings raise important questions about how the NICU is used for newborns with lower risk.

Health Services Utilization and Specialist Care in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multiprovince Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Patterns of health services utilization among children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are important to understand as the number of children with IBD continues to increase. We compared health services utilization and surgery among children diagnosed <10 years of age (Paris classification: A1a) and between 10 and <16 years of age (A1b). METHODS: Incident cases of IBD diagnosed <16 years of age were identified using validated algorithms from deterministically linked health administrative data in 5 Canadian provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec) to conduct a retrospective cohort study. We compared the frequency of IBD-specific outpatient visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations across age groups (A1a vs A1b [reference]) using negative binomial regression. The risk of surgery was compared across age groups using Cox proportional hazards models. Models were adjusted for sex, rural/urban residence location, and mean neighborhood income quintile. Province-specific estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Among the 1165 (65.7% Crohn's) children with IBD included in our study, there were no age differences in the frequency of hospitalizations (rate ratio [RR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-1.06) or outpatient visits (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.78-1.16). A1a children had fewer emergency department visits (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.50-0.97) and were less likely to require a Crohn's-related surgery (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.26-0.92). The risk of colectomy was similar among children with ulcerative colitis in both age groups (hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.49-1.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of health services utilization are generally similar when comparing children diagnosed across age groups.

Among 1165 children with inflammatory bowel disease, health services utilization was similar for children diagnosed <10 years of age and those diagnosed ≥10 years of age, except younger children had fewer emergency department visits and Crohn's disease­related surgeries.