Effects of chiropractic use on medical healthcare utilization and costs in adults with back pain in Ontario, Canada from 2003 to 2018: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Adults with back pain commonly consult chiropractors, but the impact of chiropractic use on medical utilization and costs within the Canadian health system is unclear. We assessed the association between chiropractic utilization and subsequent medical healthcare utilization and costs in a population-based cohort of Ontario adults with back pain. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study that included Ontario adult respondents of the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) with back pain from 2003 to 2010 (n = 29,475), followed up to 2018. The CCHS data were individually-linked to individual-level health administrative data up to 2018. Chiropractic utilization was self-reported consultation with a chiropractor in the past 12 months. We propensity score-matched adults with and without chiropractic utilization, accounting for confounders. We evaluated back pain-specific and all-cause medical utilization and costs at 1- and 5-year follow-up using negative binomial and linear (log-transformed) regression, respectively. We assessed whether sex and prior specialist consultation in the past 12 months were effect modifiers of the association. RESULTS: There were 6972 matched pairs of CCHS respondents with and without chiropractic utilization. Women with chiropractic utilization had 0.8 times lower rate of cause-specific medical visits at follow-up than those without chiropractic utilization (RR5years = 0.82, 95% CI 0.68-1.00); this association was not found in men (RR5years = 0.96, 95% CI 0.73-1.24). There were no associations between chiropractic utilization and all-cause physician visits, all-cause emergency department visits, all-cause hospitalizations, or costs. Effect modification of the association between chiropractic utilization and cause-specific utilization by prior specialist consultation was found at 1-year but not 5-year follow-up; cause-specific utilization at 1 year was lower in adults without prior specialist consultation only (RR1year = 0.74, 95% CI 0.57-0.97). CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with back pain, chiropractic use is associated with lower rates of back pain-specific utilization in women but not men over a 5-year follow-up period. Findings have implications for guiding allied healthcare delivery in the Ontario health system.

Accumulation Of Chronic Conditions At The Time Of Death Increased In Ontario From 1994 To 2013.

With falling mortality rates for several diseases, patients are living longer with complex multimorbidities. We explored the burden of multimorbidity at the time of death, how it varies by socioeconomic status, and trends over time in Ontario, Canada. We calculated the proportions of decedents with varying degrees of multimorbidity and types of conditions at death, and we analyzed the trend from 1994 to 2013 in the number of conditions at the time of death. The prevalence of multimorbidity at death increased from 79.6 percent in 1994 to 95.3 percent in 2013. An upward trend in the number of conditions per person at death was observed for all chronic conditions except chronic coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes were disproportionately represented in low-income and deprived neighborhoods. The trend toward greater multimorbidity burden over time and the existence of steep socioeconomic gradients underscore the importance of integrated health care planning for preventing and managing multiple complex conditions.

Putting a Population Health Lens to Multimorbidity in Ontario.

Almost all Ontarians die with multimorbidity, and most accumulate more than five conditions over their lifetime. Our health system is still largely focused on specialties and treating one disease at a time - an approach that is incompatible with the healthcare needs of patients with multiple and often complex chronic conditions. This burden requires a health system that recognizes that patients will more likely live and die with multiple chronic conditions than not (i.e., multimorbidity management versus specialized care). There are important and meaningful differences in the types and numbers of conditions that patients die with. In particular, increases in the most preventable conditions are greater among the most deprived members of our society. To address the worrying trends seen here, chronic disease prevention - not only management - must be a priority, with a strong focus on health equity. Chronic disease prevention and a strong focus on equity are signatures of a population health approach. This work echoes calls for a stronger emphasis on population health in the health system.

Effect of Vitamin D3 Supplementation on Inflammatory Markers and Glycemic Measures among Overweight or Obese Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Obesity induced low-grade chronic inflammation disrupts proper immune and metabolic function. Vitamin D deficiency increases inflammation, which is associated with cardiometabolic risk. This systematic review examines the association between oral vitamin D (VD) supplementation and circulating inflammatory biomarkers and glycemic outcomes from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of overweight and/or obese adults. METHODS: MEDLINE OVID, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched according to a predefined protocol. Eligible RCTs included adults randomized to receive either oral VD or placebo. Two reviewers independently assessed RCTs for inclusion. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool. Mean differences were calculated comparing end-of-study sample means between the independent VD and placebo groups. RESULTS: Eleven unique RCTs met inclusion criteria from a total of 3,383 identified citations, including 79 screened articles and 14 full text data extractions. Inflammatory and glycemic measures were reported in 7 and 10 RCTs, respectively. Most trial findings were non-significant with considerable heterogeneity in design, participants and outcomes. All but one trial was rated as either high or unclear risk of bias. Two RCTs reported significant changes in inflammatory biomarkers; however, the mean difference between groups was not statistically significant: C-reactive protein 0.19 mg/L (p = 0.88); Tumor Necrosis Factor -0.54 pg/ml (p = 0.20). Two other trials found significant mean differences in fasting plasma glucose -0.32 mmol/L (p = 0.03), Hemoglobin A1c -0.13% (p = 0.04), and Homeostatic Model Assessment -0.86 (p = 0.02) following VD supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, there is no clear established benefit of VD supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers among overweight/obese adults. Baseline serum VD possibly influences the effect of VD repletion on inflammatory markers. Risk of bias was present in most studies, thus supporting the need for higher quality studies in this area to more conclusively understand the role VD supplementation has on inflammatory pathways.