Association between opioid use disorder and palliative care: a cohort study using linked health administrative data in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: People with opioid use disorder (OUD) are at risk of premature death and can benefit from palliative care. We sought to compare palliative care provision for decedents with and without OUD. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study using health administrative databases in Ontario, Canada, to identify people who died between July 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2021. The exposure was OUD, defined as having emergency department visits, hospital admissions, or pharmacologic treatments suggestive of OUD within 3 years of death. Our primary outcome was receipt of 1 or more palliative care services during the last 90 days before death. Secondary outcomes included setting, initiation, and intensity of palliative care. We conducted a secondary analysis excluding sudden deaths (e.g., opioid toxicity, injury). RESULTS: Of 679 840 decedents, 11 200 (1.6%) had OUD. Compared with people without OUD, those with OUD died at a younger age and were more likely to live in neighbourhoods with high marginalization indices. We found people with OUD were less likely to receive palliative care at the end of their lives (adjusted relative risk [RR] 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82-0.86), but this difference did not exist after excluding people who died suddenly (adjusted RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.96-1.01). People with OUD were less likely to receive palliative care in clinics and their homes regardless of cause of death. INTERPRETATION: Opioid use disorder can be a chronic, life-limiting illness, and people with OUD are less likely to receive palliative care in communities during the 90 days before death. Health care providers should receive training in palliative care and addiction medicine to support people with OUD.

Impact of a Transitional Pain Service on postoperative opioid trajectories: a retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: It has been well described that a small but significant proportion of patients continue to use opioids months after surgical discharge. We sought to evaluate postdischarge opioid use of patients who were seen by a Transitional Pain Service compared with controls. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data of individuals who underwent surgery in Ontario, Canada from 2014 to 2018. Matched cohort pairs were created by matching Transitional Pain Service patients to patients of other academic hospitals in Ontario who were not enrolled in a Transitional Pain Service. Segmented regression was performed to assess changes in monthly mean daily opioid dosage. RESULTS: A total of 209 Transitional Pain Service patients were matched to 209 patients who underwent surgery at other academic centers. Over the 12 months after surgery, the mean daily dose decreased by an estimated 3.53 morphine milligram equivalents (95% CI 2.67 to 4.39, p<0.001) per month for the Transitional Pain Service group, compared with a decline of only 1.05 morphine milligram equivalents (95% CI 0.43 to 1.66, p<0.001) for the controls. The difference-in-difference change in opioid use for the Transitional Pain Service group versus the control group was -2.48 morphine milligram equivalents per month (95% CI -3.54 to -1.43, p=0.003). DISCUSSION: Patients enrolled in the Transitional Pain Service were able to achieve opioid dose reduction faster than in the control cohorts. The difficulty in finding an appropriate control group for this retrospective study highlights the need for future randomized controlled trials to determine efficacy.

Engagement with the HCV care cascade among high-risk groups: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: HCV elimination requires a thorough understanding of the care cascade. A direct-acting antiviral (DAA)-era description of the care cascade has not been undertaken in Ontario, Canada's most populous jurisdiction. Our primary objective was to describe the current population-level care cascade in the general Ontario population and among key risk groups ─ baby boomers, immigrants, and individuals experiencing residential instability. The secondary objective was to identify predictors of engagement. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study of Ontario residents undergoing HCV testing between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2018, and mapped the care cascade [antibody-diagnosed, RNA tested, RNA positive, genotyped, treated, achieved sustained virologic response, reinfected/relapsed] as of December 31, 2018. The cascade was stratified by risk groups. Cause-specific hazard modeling was used to identify demographic, and socioeconomic predictors of engagement with key steps of the cascade. RESULTS: Among 108,428 Ontario residents living with an HCV antibody diagnosis, 88% received confirmatory RNA testing; of these, 62% tested positive and 94% of positive tests were genotyped. Of those with confirmed viremia, 53% initiated treatment and 76% of treated individuals achieved sustained virologic response, while ~1% experienced reinfection or relapse. Males, older birth cohorts, long-term residents, those with a history of substance use disorder and social marginalization (eg, material deprivation, residential instability), and those initially diagnosed in the pre-DAA era exhibited lower rates of engagement with almost every step of HCV care. CONCLUSIONS: Despite DAA era improvements, treatment initiation remains a major gap. HCV screening and linkage-to-treatment, particularly for those with a history of substance use disorder and social marginalization, will be needed to equitably close gaps in HCV care in the province.

The Association Between Pregnancy Timing and Cumulative Exposure on Survival in Melanoma.

BACKGROUND: As melanoma is common among young women, the impact of pregnancy on melanoma prognosis is of interest. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between pregnancy and survival in female melanoma patients of childbearing age. METHODS: We performed a population-level, retrospective cohort study of women of childbearing age (18-45 years) diagnosed with melanoma from 2007 to 2017 using administrative data from Ontario, Canada. Patients were categorized according to pregnancy status (i.e. pregnancy before [conception from 60 to 13 months prior to melanoma], pregnancy-associated [conception 12 months prior to and after], and pregnancy after [conception 12 months after] melanoma). Cox models were used to examine melanoma-specific survival (MSS) and overall survival (OS) associated with pregnancy status. RESULTS: Of 1312 women with melanoma, most did not experience pregnancy (84.1%), with 7.6% experiencing a pregnancy-associated melanoma and 8.2% experiencing a pregnancy after melanoma. Pregnancy before melanoma occurred in 18.1% of patients. Pregnancy before (hazard ratio [HR] 0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35-1.28), associated (HR 1.15, 95% CI 0.45-2.97), and after melanoma (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.13-1.11) was not associated with a difference in MSS compared with those who did not experience a pregnancy during these time periods. Pregnancy status was also not associated with a difference in OS (p > 0.05). Cumulative weeks pregnant were not associated with a difference in MSS (4-week HR 0.99, 95% CI 0.92-1.07) or OS (4-week HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.94-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: In this population-level analysis of female melanoma patients of childbearing age, pregnancy was not associated with a difference in survival, suggesting that pregnancy is not associated with a worse melanoma prognosis.

Outcomes of Patent Foramen Ovale Transcatheter Closure: Should a Short Aortic Rim Preclude Closure?

Background: The risk of erosion of an atrial septal closure device, in particular the Amplatzer Septal Occluder, has been described as higher in patients with a short aortic rim. Similar concern has been applied to patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure devices, but there are only rare reported cases of erosion. It may be that smaller devices are chosen due to fear of device erosion in PFO patients when this is not necessarily an issue. Objectives: The authors aimed to assess outcomes after PFO closure with the Amplatzer PFO device in patients with a short (<9 mm) aortic rim. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of PFO closure for any indication, between 2006 and 2017 at a quaternary center. Preprocedural transesophageal echocardiographic parameters including the aortic rim were remeasured. Long-term outcomes were obtained by linkage to provincial administrative databases. Results: Over the study period, 324 patients underwent PFO closure with the Amplatzer PFO device, with a mean age of 49.8 years; 61% had a short aortic rim (<9 mm). The most common indication was cryptogenic stroke (72%); those with longer aortic distance were more likely to have a non-stroke indication for closure, diabetes (15% vs 6.5%, P = 0.04), and heart failure (15.7% vs 4%, P < 0.001). Over a median 7 years of follow-up, there were no cases of device erosion or embolization requiring cardiac surgery. Conclusions: In a large cohort with long-term administrative follow-up (1,394 patient-years), implantation of an Amplatzer PFO device was performed safely even in patients with a short aortic rim.

Venous Thromboembolism in Patients Discharged From the Emergency Department With Ankle Fractures: A Population-Based Cohort Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Temporary lower limb immobilization may be a risk for venous thromboembolism. The purpose of this study was to examine the 90-day incidence of venous thromboembolism among patients discharged from an emergency department (ED) with ankle fractures requiring temporary immobilization. Secondary objectives were to examine individual factors associated with venous thromboembolism in this population and to compare the risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with ankle fractures against a priori-selected control groups. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using province-wide health datasets from Ontario, Canada. We included patients aged 16 years and older discharged from an ED between 2013 and 2018 with closed ankle fractures requiring temporary immobilization. We estimated 90-day incidence of venous thromboembolism after ankle fracture. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate risk factors associated with venous thromboembolism, censoring at 90 days or death. Patients with ankle fractures were then propensity score matched to 2 control groups: patients discharged with injuries not requiring lower limb immobilization (ie, finger wounds and wrist fractures) to compare relative hazard of venous thromboembolism. RESULTS: There were 86,081 eligible patients with ankle fractures. Incidence of venous thromboembolism within 90 days was 1.3%. Factors associated with venous thromboembolism were older age (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00 to 1.39), venous thromboembolism or superficial venous thrombosis history (HR: 5.18; 95% CI: 4.33 to 6.20), recent hospital admission (HR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.68), recent nonankle fracture surgery (HR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.30 to 1.93), and subsequent surgery for ankle fracture (HR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.48 to 2.20). In the matched cohort, patients with ankle fractures had an increased hazard of venous thromboembolism compared to matched controls with finger wounds (HR: 6.31; 95% CI: 5.30 to 7.52) and wrist fractures (HR: 5.68; 95% CI: 4.71 to 6.85). CONCLUSION: The 90-day incidence of venous thromboembolism among patients discharged from the ED with ankle fractures requiring immobilization was 1.3%. These patients had a 5.7- to 6.3-fold increased hazard compared to matched controls. Certain patients immobilized for ankle fractures are at higher risk of venous thromboembolism, and this should be recognized by emergency physicians.

Cardiorenal outcomes in eligible patients referred for bariatric surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Bariatric surgery is associated with reduced atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) and heart failure hospitalization in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and those with prior CVD. Most patients undergoing bariatric surgery do not have T2D or CVD. Many otherwise eligible patients do not have surgery because of self-exclusion. Clinical outcomes in these groups are less established. METHODS: This study retrospectively assessed cardiorenal outcomes in 8,568 patients after acceptance of referral for surgery. RESULTS: A total of 63.8% patients did not undergo surgery. After multivariate adjustment for sex, age, BMI, income quintile, distance from hospital, hypertension, T2D, and CVD, hazard ratios (HR) for the primary (incident myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and death; HR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.4-0.66) and secondary CVD outcomes (primary outcomes and coronary/carotid revascularization; HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42-0.67) were lower in the surgery cohort. This reduction was seen in those with (primary: HR = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.32-0.63, secondary: HR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.34-0.65) and without T2D (primary: HR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42-0.88, secondary: HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42-0.67). Reduced kidney disease (HR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.22-0.92) but increased liver disease hospitalization (HR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.45-4.27) was observed with surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Non-progression to surgery associates with increased CVD despite low baseline prevalence of CVD. The cardiorenal benefits of bariatric surgery warrant confirmation in a well-powered randomized clinical trial.