Vaping-associated lung illness (VALI) in Canada: a descriptive analysis of VALI cases reported from September 2019 to December 2020. / La maladie pulmonaire associée au vapotage (MPAV) au Canada : une analyse descriptive des cas de MPAV signalés entre septembre 2019 et décembre 2020.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore demographic and clinical characteristics of vaping-associated lung illness (VALI) cases reported in Canada from September 2019 to December 2020; compare the epidemiology of VALI cases in Canada to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases in the US; and examine possible explanations for differences between the two countries. METHODS: A federal/provincial/territorial task group developed a national outbreak definition, minimum dataset and case report form for identification and surveillance of VALI cases in Canada. Descriptive analysis explored the characteristics and epidemiology of reported VALI cases. RESULTS: Of the 20 VALI cases reported, none resulted in a death. Of all cases, 5 (25%) involved youth aged 15 to 19 years, 10 (50%) adults aged 20 to 49 years and 5 (25%) aged 50 years and older. Sixty percent of patients were men. Half (50%) required breathing assistance. Three-quarters (75%) reported using nicotine-containing vaping products, and 40% reported use of cannabis-containing vaping products; of those who reported frequency of vaping, most (71%) reported vaping daily. VALI cases were reported at a lower prevalence (0.9 per million) than EVALI (8.5 per million). Demographics and vaping behaviour also differed. CONCLUSION: VALI cases were reported in Canada between September 2019 and December 2020; however, there was a much lower prevalence and they may have been caused by different factors from the EVALI outbreak in the US. The factors influencing VALI in Canada are complex and multifactorial. Research is needed to understand the short- and long-term health effects of nicotine and cannabis vaping.

Prevalence of alcohol use among women of reproductive age in Canada. / Fréquence de la consommation d'alcool chez les Canadiennes en âge de procréer.

INTRODUCTION: Reporting on alcohol use among women of reproductive age in Canada addresses a major gap in evidence. METHODS: We assessed the prevalence of weekly and heavy alcohol consumption among women aged 15 to 54 years by sociodemographic characteristics, province of residence and concurrent use of other substance(s) using data from the 2019 Canadian Community Health Survey. RESULTS: Of the target population, 30.5% reported weekly and 18.3% reported heavy alcohol consumption in the past year. Prevalence varied by sociodemographic characteristics, province and substance use. The most notable and significant differences were to do with cannabis use and smoking. CONCLUSION: This information can guide health care providers in assessing alcohol consumption and in promoting low-risk alcohol drinking to prevent alcohol exposure during pregnancy.

The opioid crisis in Canada: a national perspective. / La crise des opioïdes au Canada : une perspective nationale.

INTRODUCTION: This review provides a national summary of what is currently known about the Canadian opioid crisis with respect to opioid-related deaths and harms and potential risk factors as of December 2017. METHODS: We reviewed all public-facing opioid-related surveillance or epidemiological reports published by provincial and territorial ministries of health and chief coroners' or medical examiners' offices. In addition, we reviewed publications from federal partners and reports and articles published prior to December 2017. We synthesized the evidence by comparing provincial and territorial opioid-related mortality and morbidity rates with the national rates to look for regional trends. RESULTS: The opioid crisis has affected every region of the country, although some jurisdictions have been impacted more than others. As of 2016, apparent opioid-related deaths and hospitalization rates were highest in the western provinces of British Columbia and Alberta and in both Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Nationally, most apparent opioid-related deaths occurred among males; individuals between 30 and 39 years of age accounted for the greatest proportion. Current evidence suggests regional age and sex differences with respect to health outcomes, especially when synthetic opioids are involved. However, differences between data collection methods and reporting requirements may impact the interpretation and comparability of reported data. CONCLUSION: This report identifies gaps in evidence and areas for further investigation to improve our understanding of the national opioid crisis. The Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to work closely with the provinces, territories and national partners to further refine and standardize national data collection, conduct special studies and expand information-sharing to improve the evidence needed to inform public health action and prevent opioid-related deaths and harms.

INTRODUCTION: Cette recension offre un panorama à l'échelle nationale de ce que l'on savait, en décembre 2017, au sujet de la crise des opioïdes au Canada, en matière de décès et de méfaits liés à la consommation d'opioïdes et en matière de facteurs de risque potentiels. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Nous avons examiné tous les rapports de surveillance et les rapports épidémiologiques sur les opioïdes destinés au public ayant été publiés par les ministères de la Santé des provinces et des territoires et les bureaux des coroners en chef ou des médecins légistes. Nous avons également examiné les publications de nos partenaires fédéraux ainsi que les rapports et les articles sur le sujet publiés jusqu'à décembre 2017. Nous avons synthétisé les données en comparant les taux de mortalité et de morbidité liés à la consommation d'opioïdes dans les provinces et les territoires aux taux observés à l'échelle nationale afin de déceler d'éventuelles tendances à l'échelle régionale. RÉSULTATS: La crise des opioïdes touche toutes les régions du pays, mais certaines sont plus durement atteintes que d'autres. En effet, depuis 2016, les taux de décès et d'hospitalisations apparemment liés à la consommation d'opioïdes sont plus élevés dans les provinces de l'Ouest que sont la Colombie­Britannique et l'Alberta, ainsi qu'au Yukon et dans les Territoires du Nord­Ouest. À l'échelle nationale, la plupart des décès apparemment liés à la consommation d'opioïdes sont survenus chez des hommes et ils ont touché en plus grande proportion les 30 à 39 ans. Les données disponibles laissent penser qu'il existe des différences régionales en matière de résultats de santé en fonction de l'âge et du sexe, en particulier lorsque des opioïdes synthétiques sont en cause. Toutefois, des différences relevant des méthodes de collecte et des exigences relatives à la déclaration des données peuvent jouer sur l'interprétation et la comparabilité des résultats. CONCLUSION: Ce rapport relève des lacunes en ce qui concerne certaines données et certains domaines, auxquelles il faudra remédier en menant des études plus approfondies pour mieux comprendre la crise nationale des opioïdes. L'Agence de la santé publique du Canada va continuer de travailler en étroite collaboration avec les provinces, les territoires et ses partenaires nationaux pour affiner et normaliser les processus de collecte de données à l'échelle nationale, mener des études spécifiques et améliorer l'échange d'information, afin que l'on dispose de meilleures données sur lesquelles se fonder pour élaborer des mesures de santé publique et prévenir les décès et les méfaits liés aux opioïdes.

Trends in vaccine-induced immunity to hepatitis B among Canadian street-involved youth.

In Canada, universal and publicly funded hepatitis B immunization programs have been available since 1998 in all provinces and territories. This present study estimates the proportion of having vaccine-induced immunity to hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its associated determinants among street-involved youth aged at 15-24 years old in Canada using the data collected by the Enhanced Surveillance of Canadian Street Youth. Vaccine-induced immunity was identified by blood test results of anti-HBc negative and anti-HBs positive. Of the 4,035 participants included in this study, the overall proportion of those with vaccine-induced immunity to HBV was 51.7% during the study period compared to over 90% among the general adolescent population. The proportion of street-involved youth immunized with HBV vaccine increased from 34.7% in 1999 to 64.4% in 2005. Immunity was higher among females (aOR = 1.43, 1.17-1.75) and among those with a reported history of sexually transmitted infection (aOR = 1.30, 1.03-1.63). The proportion of youth with the immunity decreased as age increased (aOR = 0.78, 0.76-0.81, per year increase). Despite an overall increase in the proportion of Canadian street-involved youth with vaccine-induced immunity to HBV, the proportion was still significantly lower than that observed in the general adolescent population. This highlights the need to improve the access to basic health care and the immunization programs to HBV for street-involved youth through creative outreach programs and other multi-faceted approaches.