Biopsychosocial factors in oral and systemic diseases: a scoping review.

Background: The association between chronic oral diseases and other major systemic health conditions, commonly referred to as the oral-systemic health connection, has been previously studied with several underlying common risk factors and pathways linking both groups of diseases. Psychosocial factors contribute to an increased susceptibility to chronic oral and non-oral diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge on the role of psychosocial stress in chronic oral and systemic diseases. Methods: A search strategy was built and a literature search was conducted using four databases (CINAHL, Embase, Medline, PsycINFO). A combination of search terms related to psychosocial stress, systemic disease, and oral conditions were used. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they included human adults (aged 18 years and older), included psychosocial factors as an exposure measure, and outcome measures of both an oral and systemic condition. Only English-language articles were considered. Pilot testing of the data extraction form and calibration were conducted and data were extracted independently by one researcher. Results: A total of fifteen articles out of eighty full-text articles screened were determined to be eligible for inclusion in this review. Periodontal disease was the most commonly studied oral disease, measured in 53% of included articles, with the most commonly studied systemic diseases being of mental health conditions (40%) and diabetes (47%). Psychosocial stress was measured using a range of psychometric indicators and/or biomarkers, including perceived stress, individual behaviours, childhood adversity, and cortisol. In total, fourteen studies found a positive association between measures of psychosocial stress and oral-systemic health. Conclusion: Psychosocial stress may be a common contributor to both chronic oral and non-oral diseases.

Medicare Advantage plan characteristics associated with sorting their beneficiaries to providers that generate fewer avoidable hospital stays.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether certain Medicare Advantage (MA) plan characteristics are associated with driving beneficiaries to providers that generate fewer avoidable hospital stays. DATA SOURCES: This paper primarily used 2018-2019 MA encounter data and traditional Medicare (TM) claims data for a nationally representative 20% sample of Medicare beneficiaries. STUDY DESIGN: For each plan design aspect-plan type, carrier, star rating, and network breadth-we estimated two adjusted Poisson regressions of avoidable hospital stays: one without clinician fixed effects and the other with. We calculated the difference between the coefficients to evaluate the extent to which patient sorting affected avoidable hospital stays relative to TM. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS: Our sample included Medicare beneficiaries 65 years and older who were continuously enrolled in either MA or TM during 2018-2019. Beneficiaries in our sample had one or more chronic, ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Patient sorting can be attributed to certain characteristics of plan design aspects. For plan type, HMOs account for 86%, with PPOs accounting for only 14%. For carriers, Humana and smaller carriers account for 89%. For star ratings, high-star contracts account for 94%, with other stars only accounting for 6%. By network design, narrow network plan-counties explained 20% of the patient sorting effect. CONCLUSIONS: While MA plans were found to be associated with driving beneficiaries to providers that generate fewer avoidable hospital stays, the effect is not homogeneous across the characteristics of MA plans. HMOs and high-star contracts are drivers of this MA phenomenon.

An app-based ecological momentary assessment of undergraduate student mental Health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada (Smart Healthy Campus Version 2.0): Longitudinal study.

This paper presents results from the Smart Healthy Campus 2.0 study/smartphone app, developed and used to collect mental health-related lifestyle data from 86 Canadian undergraduates January-August 2021. Objectives of the study were to 1) address the absence of longitudinal mental health overview and lifestyle-related data from Canadian undergraduate students, and 2) to identify associations between these self-reported mental health overviews (questionnaires) and lifestyle-related measures (from smartphone digital measures). This was a longitudinal repeat measures study conducted over 40 weeks. A 9-item mental health questionnaire was accessible once daily in the app. Two variants of this mental health questionnaire existed; the first was a weekly variant, available each Monday or until a participant responded during the week. The second was a daily variant available after the weekly variant. 6518 digital measure samples and 1722 questionnaire responses were collected. Mixed models were fit for responses to the two questionnaire variants and 12 phone digital measures (e.g. GPS, step counts). The daily questionnaire had positive associations with floors walked, installed apps, and campus proximity, while having negative associations with uptime, and daily calendar events. Daily depression had a positive association with uptime. Daily resilience appeared to have a slight positive association with campus proximity. The weekly questionnaire variant had positive associations with device idling and installed apps, and negative associations with floors walked, calendar events, and campus proximity. Physical activity, weekly, had a negative association with uptime, and a positive association with calendar events and device idling. These lifestyle indicators that associated with student mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic suggest directions for new mental health-related interventions (digital or otherwise) and further efforts in mental health surveillance under comparable circumstances.

Lost in translation? Deciphering the role of language differences in the excess risk of psychosis among migrant groups.

BACKGROUND: Migration is a well-established risk factor for psychotic disorders, and migrant language has been proposed as a novel factor that may improve our understanding of this relationship. Our objective was to explore the association between indicators of linguistic distance and the risk of psychotic disorders among first-generation migrant groups. METHODS: Using linked health administrative data, we constructed a retrospective cohort of first-generation migrants to Ontario over a 20-year period (1992-2011). Linguistic distance of the first language was categorized using several approaches, including language family classifications, estimated acquisition time, syntax-based distance scores, and lexical-based distance scores. Incident cases of non-affective psychotic disorder were identified over a 5- to 25-year period. We used Poisson regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRR) for each language variable, after adjustment for knowledge of English at arrival and other factors. RESULTS: Our cohort included 1 863 803 first-generation migrants. Migrants whose first language was in a different language family than English had higher rates of psychotic disorders (IRR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.01-1.16), relative to those whose first language was English. Similarly, migrants in the highest quintile of linguistic distance based on lexical similarity had an elevated risk of psychotic disorder (IRR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.06-1.24). Adjustment for knowledge of English at arrival had minimal effect on observed estimates. CONCLUSION: We found some evidence that linguistic factors that impair comprehension may play a role in the excess risk of psychosis among migrant groups; however, the magnitude of effect is small and unlikely to fully explain the elevated rates of psychotic disorder across migrant groups.

The experiences of familial mental illness stigma among individuals living with mental illnesses.

Persons with mental illnesses may experience stigma from their immediate family members in addition to other forms of stigma. Using semi-structured interviews, we investigated experiences of familial mental illness stigma among 15 people diagnosed with mental illnesses in a mid-sized city in Canada. We identified five themes that speak to participants' experiences of familial mental illness stigma and ways to reduce it. The themes include the following: diagnosis as a 'double-edged sword,' potential familial isolation, familial stigma as societal stigma localized, stories of acceptance, and confronting potential familial mental illness stigma. Participants' narratives indicate that familial mental illness stigma is rooted in the broader social or public stigma, which sees its way into familial relations as well. This stigma takes various forms, including relationship bias or unfair treatment, breakdown in romantic relationships, loss of status, verbal and emotional abuse, exclusion from decision-making, and alienation within their immediate and extended families. Familial mental illness stigma experiences negatively impact participant's psychological well-being and personal empowerment. However, participants also shared ways that family members create supportive environments or actively confront or prevent stigma. Overall, this study has contributed to knowledge on mental illness stigma, particularly familial mental illness stigma from the perspective of participants living with a mental illness in a high-income country. Suggestions for future research include a focus on strategies to prevent ongoing familial mental illness stigma and large-scale studies to explore familial mental illness stigma to understand why families might perpetrate stigma.

Disparities in Access to a Regular Primary Care Physician Among First-Generation Migrants with Early Psychosis in Ontario, Canada.

Disparities in primary care utilization among migrants with early psychosis may be related to lack of access to a regular primary care physician. This study aimed to investigate access to a regular primary care physician among first-generation migrants with early psychosis. People aged 14-35 years with first onset non-affective psychotic disorder in Ontario, Canada were identified in health administrative data (N = 39,440). Access to a regular primary care physician through enrollment in the year prior to diagnosis was compared between first-generation migrants (categorized by country of birth) and the general population using modified Poisson regression. Most migrant groups had a lower prevalence of regular primary care physician access relative to the general population, particularly migrants from Africa (African migrants: 81% vs. non-migrants: 89%). Adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical factors attenuated these differences, although the disparities for migrants from Africa remained (PR = 0.96, 95%CI = 0.94-0.99). Interventions aimed at improving primary care physician access in migrant groups may facilitate help-seeking and improve pathways to care in early psychosis.

Early Psychosis Intervention and Primary Care: A Mixed Methods Study of Family Physician Knowledge, Attitudes, Preferences, and Needs.

Family physicians (FPs) play an important but underappreciated role in the pathways to care for people with early psychosis. We conducted a mixed-methods study to describe the knowledge, attitudes, preferences, and needs of FPs towards the recognition and management of early psychosis. We sent a cross-sectional postal survey to a random sample of FPs in Ontario, Canada, and conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with twenty. FPs were generally aware of important early psychosis symptoms, however, there were some knowledge gaps. Among surveyed FPs, 25% were unsure of the availability of early psychosis intervention services in their region, and most (80%) would prefer to co-manage with specialists. In the qualitative interviews, FPs expressed varied comfort levels in recognizing psychosis, and that timely access to psychiatry was a main concern. Our findings suggest that FPs require better support in recognizing and managing early psychosis and facilitating connections with specialized care.

Treatment and Mortality Following Cancer Diagnosis Among People With Non-affective Psychotic Disorders in Ontario, Canada: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: People with psychotic disorders have a higher risk of mortality following cancer diagnosis, compared to people without psychosis. The extent to which this disparity is influenced by differences in cancer-related treatment is currently unknown. We hypothesized that, following a cancer diagnosis, people with psychotic disorders were less likely to receive treatment and were at higher risk of death than those without psychosis. STUDY DESIGN: We constructed a retrospective cohort of cases of non-affective psychotic disorder (NAPD) and a general population comparison group, using Ontario Health (OH) administrative data. We identified cases of all cancers diagnosed between 1995 and 2019 and obtained information on cancer-related treatment and mortality. Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare the probability of having a consultation with an oncologist and receiving cancer-related treatment, adjusting for tumor site and stage. We also compared the rate of all-cause and cancer-related mortality between the two groups, adjusting for tumor site. STUDY RESULTS: Our analytic sample included 24 944 people diagnosed with any cancer. People with NAPD were less likely to receive treatment than people without psychosis (HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.82, 0.91). In addition, people with NAPD had a greater risk of death from any cause (HR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.60, 1.76), compared to people without NAPD. CONCLUSIONS: The lower likelihood of receiving cancer treatment reflects disparities in accessing cancer care for people with psychotic disorders, which may partially explain the higher mortality risk following cancer diagnosis. Future research should explore mediating factors in this relationship to identify targets for reducing health disparities.

Effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention for persons with early psychosis: A multi-site randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The Mindfulness Ambassador Program (MAP) is a group-based, facilitated mindfulness-based intervention (MBI). We sought to determine the effectiveness of MAP on reducing negative psychotic symptoms and enhancing mindfulness skills among persons experiencing early psychosis. METHODS: We conducted a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) at three early psychosis intervention (EPI) programs in Ontario, Canada. Participants (N = 59) were randomly assigned to receive MAP (n = 29) for 1-hour weekly sessions over 3 months, or to treatment as usual (TAU, n = 30). Assessments were conducted at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months using the Self-Evaluation of Negative Symptoms (SNS) and Kentucky Inventory of Mindfulness Skills (KIMS). Linear mixed methods were used to assess the joint effects of group and time. RESULTS: At 3 months, participants who received MAP (n = 17) demonstrated greater reductions on the SNS relative to TAU (n = 15), which were clinically and statistically significant (-4.1; 95%CI -7.5, -0.7; p = 0.019). At 6 months, the difference between MAP (n = 10) and TAU (n = 13) was no longer statistically significant (-1.2; 95%CI -5.2,2.7; p = 0.54). On the KIMS, no significant effects were found at 3 months (+0.3; 95%CI -2.0,2.5; p = 0.82) or 6 months (+0.4; 95%CI -2.2,2.9; p = 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: We conducted one of the first multi-site RCTs of a MBI for early psychosis. Our findings indicated that MAP was more effective in reducing negative symptoms compared to TAU in the short term. Earlier reductions in negative psychotic symptoms may help facilitate recovery in the long term.

The association between household food insecurity and healthcare costs among Canadian children.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between household food insecurity and healthcare costs in children living in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based study using four cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2011-2012, 2013-2014) linked with administrative health databases (ICES). We included Ontario children aged 1-17 years with a measure of household food insecurity (Household Food Security Survey Module) over the previous 12 months. Our primary outcome was the direct public-payer healthcare costs per child over the same time period (in Canadian dollars, standardized to year 2020). We used gamma-log-transformed generalized estimating equations accounting for the clustering of children to examine this relationship, and adjusted models for important sociodemographic covariates. As a secondary outcome, we examined healthcare usage of specific services and associated costs (e.g. visits to hospitals, surgeries). RESULTS: We found that adjusted healthcare costs were higher in children from food-insecure than from food-secure households ($676.79 [95% CI: $535.26, $855.74] vs. $563.98 [$457.00, $695.99], p = 0.047). Compared with children living in food-secure households, those in insecure households more often accessed hospitals, emergency departments, day surgeries, and home care, and used prescription medications. Children from food-secure households had higher usage of non-physician healthcare (e.g. optometry) and family physician rostering services. CONCLUSION: Even after adjusting for measurable social determinants of health, household food insecurity was associated with higher public-payer health services costs and utilization among children and youth. Efforts to mitigate food insecurity could lessen child healthcare needs, as well as associated costs to our healthcare systems.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Examiner la relation entre l'insécurité alimentaire des ménages et les coûts des soins de santé chez les enfants vivant en Ontario, au Canada. MéTHODE: Nous avons mené une étude populationnelle transversale en utilisant les quatre cycles de l'Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (2007­2008, 2009­2010, 2011­2012, 2013­2014) liés à des bases de données administratives sur la santé (ICES). Nous avons inclus les enfants ontariens de 1 à 17 ans et un indicateur d'insécurité alimentaire des ménages (le Module d'enquête sur la sécurité alimentaire des ménages) au cours des 12 mois antérieurs. Les coûts directs des soins de santé publics par enfant au cours de cette période (en dollars canadiens de 2020) ont constitué notre résultat principal. Nous avons utilisé des équations d'estimation généralisées transformées par la fonction logarithme gamma tenant compte du regroupement des enfants pour analyser cette relation, et des modèles ajustés pour les covariables sociodémographiques importantes. Comme résultat secondaire, nous avons analysé l'utilisation de certains services de soins de santé (p. ex. les visites dans les hôpitaux, les chirurgies) et les coûts associés. RéSULTATS: Nous avons constaté que les coûts ajustés des soins de santé étaient plus élevés chez les enfants des ménages aux prises avec l'insécurité alimentaire que chez ceux des ménages à l'abri de l'insécurité alimentaire (676,79 $ [IC de 95%: 535,26 $, 855,74 $] contre 563,98 $ [457,00 $, 695,99 $], p = 0,047). Comparativement aux enfants des ménages à l'abri de l'insécurité alimentaire, ceux qui vivaient dans des ménages aux prises avec l'insécurité avaient plus souvent recours aux hôpitaux, aux services des urgences, aux chirurgies d'un jour et aux soins à domicile, et ils prenaient des médicaments sur ordonnance. Les enfants des ménages à l'abri de l'insécurité alimentaire avaient plus souvent recours aux soins de santé non médicaux (p. ex. l'optométrie) et aux services de leur médecin de famille attitré. CONCLUSION: Même après l'apport d'ajustements pour tenir compte des déterminants sociaux de la santé mesurables, l'insécurité alimentaire des ménages était associée à des coûts de soins de santé publics plus élevés et à une plus grande utilisation de ces soins chez les enfants et les jeunes. Des efforts pour atténuer l'insécurité alimentaire pourraient réduire les besoins de soins de santé des enfants, ainsi que les coûts associés pour nos systèmes de soins de santé.

Who sleeps well in Canada? The social determinants of sleep health among middle-aged and older adults in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

OBJECTIVES: Sleep health inequities likely contribute to disparities in health outcomes. Our objective was to identify social determinants of sleep health among middle-aged/older adults in Canada, where prior evidence is limited. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, a survey of over 30,000 community-dwelling adults aged 45-85years. Self-reported measures included sleep duration, sleep satisfaction, and sleep efficiency. We explored associations between sleep measures and social determinants of health. We used modified Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios for sleep satisfaction and sleep efficiency, and linear regression for sleep duration. Estimates were adjusted for all social, lifestyle, and clinical covariates. We explored effect modification by sex. RESULTS: Of the 11 social determinants explored, all were significantly associated with at least one domain of sleep health. These associations were reduced to 9 variables with adjustment for all social variables, and 7 with further adjustment for lifestyle and clinical covariates, including differences by sex, age, education, marital status, employment, race/ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Better sleep health in >1 domain was observed among males, older age groups (65 and older), higher income groups, the retired group, and homeowners with adjustment for social variables, and only in males and older age groups with additional adjustment for lifestyle and clinical variables. Only sleep duration associations were modified by sex. CONCLUSIONS: Sleep health disparities among Canadian adults exist across socioeconomic gradients and racial/ethnic minority groups. Poor sleep health among disadvantaged groups warrants increased attention as a public health problem in Canada.

Is there an advantage? Considerations for researchers studying the effects of the type of Medicare coverage.

OBJECTIVE: To describe common methodological problems that arise in comparisons of Medicare Advantage (MA) and Traditional Medicare (TM) and within-MA studies and provide suggestions of how researchers can address these issues. STUDY SETTING: Published research evaluating Medicare coverage options in the United States. STUDY DESIGN: We considered key conceptual challenges and promising solutions that have been used thus far and suggest additional directions. DATA COLLECTION: Not available. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Many existing studies of MA versus TM include significant limitations, such as failing to account for unobserved confounders driving both beneficiary coverage choice and health outcomes once enrolled, not accounting for variation in benefit generosity, provider networks, or plan design across MA plans, and/or having been conducted at a time when MA enrollment was less than a third of all Medicare beneficiaries. We provide a review of methods that can help researchers to overcome these weaknesses and suggest additional methods and data sources that may aid future research. CONCLUSIONS: The MA program is becoming an essential part of the US healthcare system. By accounting for non-random movement into and out of MA and studying the heterogeneity of beneficiary experience across plan and market characteristics, researchers can provide the high-quality evidence necessary for policymakers to design the program and reform TM in ways that maximize beneficiary outcomes.

Impact of non-medical cannabis legalization with market restrictions on health service use and incident cases of psychotic disorder in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is a risk factor in the onset and persistence of psychotic disorders. There is concern that non-medical cannabis legalization in Canada may have population-level impacts on psychotic disorders. We sought to examine changes in health service use and incident cases of psychotic disorder following cannabis legalization, during a period of tight restrictions on retail stores and product types. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional interrupted time-series analysis using linked population-based health administrative data from Ontario (Canada) from January 2014 to March 2020. We identified psychosis-related outpatient visits, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and inpatient length of stay, as well as incident cases of psychotic disorders, among people aged 14 to 60 years. RESULTS: We did not find evidence of increases in health service use or incident cases of psychotic disorders over the short-term (17 month) period following cannabis legalization. However, we found clear increasing trends in health service use and incident cases of substance-induced psychotic disorders over the entire observation window (2014-2020). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the initial period of tight market restriction following legalization of non-medical cannabis was not associated with an increase in health service use or frequency of psychotic disorders. A longer post-legalization observation period, which includes expansion of the commercial cannabis market, is needed to fully understand the population-level impacts of non-medical cannabis legalization; thus, it would be premature to conclude that the legalization of non-medical cannabis did not lead to increases in health service use and incident cases of psychotic disorder.

Alternative approaches to measuring value: an update on innovative methods in the context of the United States Medicare drug price negotiation program.

INTRODUCTION: The United States has begun assessing the value of pharmaceuticals to inform negotiated prices in the Medicare program. Given strong political objections in the United States to the use of QALYs, Medicare will need to adopt an alternative approach to measuring value. AREAS COVERED: In this narrative review, we identified six alternative approaches to measuring value (equal value life-years, health years in total, generalized risk-adjusted cost-effectiveness, severity weighting based on absolute or proportional shortfall, comparative effectiveness based on conventional clinical endpoints, and comparative effectiveness based on both conventional endpoints and patient-centric value elements) and five criteria for assessing these approaches (responsiveness to concerns about discrimination, feasibility, transparency, flexibility, and the ability to incorporate factors beyond traditional value elements). EXPERT OPINION: Four of the alternatives are broadly aligned with the cost-effectiveness framework, but none fully addresses all aspects of the stated concerns that QALYs may be used to unintentionally implement discrimination. We note, however, that the extent to which these concerns lead to discrimination in practice is unknown. Finally, we recommend an approach for measuring value in terms of comparative effectiveness that combines quantitative ranking and weighting of distinct criteria (including patient-centric value elements) with deliberation.

Medicare Advantage Is Associated with Lower Utilization of Total Joint Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Medicare Advantage (MA) insurers use managed care techniques to review the utilization of medical services and control costs. It is unclear if MA enrollees have a lower utilization of elective surgical procedures such as inpatient hip and knee total joint arthroplasty (TJA), which have traditionally been covered by traditional Medicare (TM) without restrictions. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a 20% sample of 2018 TM claims and MA encounter records for 5,300,188 TM enrollees and 1,970,032 MA enrollees who were 65 to 85 years of age. We calculated unadjusted and adjusted differences (controlling for beneficiary and market characteristics) in the incidence of TJA for MA compared with TM, and by MA plan type. Finally, we calculated differences in the time to contact with an orthopaedic surgeon and time to the surgical procedure among enrollees with an osteoarthritis diagnosis. RESULTS: After controlling for observable characteristics, there was a 15.6% lower incidence of TJA in MA enrollees compared with TM enrollees (p < 0.001). Compared with TM enrollees, health maintenance organization (HMO) enrollees were 28.1% less likely to undergo TJA, controlling for observable characteristics (p < 0.001). From the initial diagnosis, the time to contact with an orthopaedic surgeon and the time to the surgical procedure were also lower among TM enrollees compared with MA enrollees. At 2 years after an osteoarthritis diagnosis, 10.4% of TM enrollees, 7.9% of preferred provider organization (PPO) enrollees, and 5.7% of HMO enrollees had undergone inpatient TJA. CONCLUSIONS: MA coverage was associated with a lower utilization of elective, inpatient hip and knee TJA. MA was also associated with a longer time to orthopaedic surgeon evaluation and surgical procedure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level III . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

The effect of non-medical cannabis retailer proximity on use of mental health services for psychotic disorders in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Cannabis is associated with the onset and persistence of psychotic disorders. Evidence suggests that accessibility of substances is associated with an increased risk of use-related harms. We sought to examine the effect of residing in proximity to non-medical cannabis retailers on the prevalence of health service use for psychosis. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using linked health administrative data, and used geospatial analyses to determine whether people in Ontario, Canada (aged 14-60 years) resided within walking (1.6 km) or driving (5.0 km) distance of non-medical cannabis retailers (open as of February-2020). We identified outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations for psychotic disorders between 01-April-2019 and 17-March-2020. We used zero-inflated Poisson regression models and gamma generalized linear models to estimate the association between cannabis retailer proximity and indicators of health service use. RESULTS: Non-medical cannabis retailers were differentially located in areas with high levels of marginalization and pre-existing health service use for psychosis. People residing within walking or driving distance of a cannabis retailer had a higher rate of psychosis-related outpatient visits, ED visits, and hospitalizations, compared to people living outside these areas. This effect was stronger among those with no prior service use for psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: Proximity to a non-medical cannabis retailer was associated with higher health service use for psychosis, even after adjustment for prior health service use. These findings suggest that opening of non-medical cannabis retailers could worsen the burden of psychosis on mental health services in areas with high-risk populations.

Sociodemographic Factors and the Risk of Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Ontario, Canada: A Province-Wide Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (POHCA) is associated with significant mortality and poor neurological outcomes. We aimed to describe the association between sociodemographic factors and POHCA risk in Ontario, Canada. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a province-wide case-control study at ICES, where patient records are linked across administrative databases. The case group included children (aged 1 day to 17 years) who experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest between 2004 and 2020. Controls were matched up to 1:4 on age, sex, index date, and key comorbidities. We used conditional logistic regression to measure the association between sociodemographic indicators and POHCA risk. The case and control groups included 1826 and 7254 children, respectively. Children living in areas with the highest levels of material deprivation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.35 [95% CI, 1.94-2.85]) and dependency (aOR, 1.22 [95% CI, 1.01-1.48]) had a higher odds of POHCA, relative to children living in regions with the lowest levels of material deprivation and dependency, respectively. Children living in neighborhoods with the lowest levels of ethnic diversity had a higher odds of POHCA (aOR, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.30-2.01]), relative to children living in neighborhoods with the highest levels of ethnic diversity. The odds of POHCA were lower in immigrants (aOR, 0.67 [95% CI, 0.47-0.95]), relative to the general population. Northern urban residence was associated with a higher odds of POHCA (aOR, 1.45 [95% CI, 1.13-1.87]), relative to southern urban residence. CONCLUSIONS: Children living in neighborhoods with high levels of marginalization may have an elevated risk of experiencing POHCA. These findings highlight the importance of addressing disparities through targeted prevention and intervention efforts.

Using Real-World Data to Inform Value-Based Contracts for Cell and Gene Therapies in Medicaid.

OBJECTIVE: High upfront costs and long-term benefit uncertainties of gene therapies challenge Medicaid budgets, making value-based contracts a potential solution. However, value-based contract design is hindered by cost-offset uncertainty. The aim of this study is to determine actual cost-offsets for valoctocogene roxaparvovec (hemophilia A) and etranacogene dezaparvovec (hemophilia B) from Colorado Medicaid's perspective, defining payback periods and its uncertainty from the perspective of Colorado Medicaid. METHODS: This cost analysis used 2018-2022 data from the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing to determine standard-of-care costs and employed cost simulation models to estimate the cost of Medicaid if patients switched to gene therapy versus if they did not. Data encompassed medical and pharmacy expenses of Colorado Medicaid enrollees. Identified cohorts were patients aged 18+ with ICD-10-CM codes D66 (hemophilia A) and D67 (hemophilia B). Severe hemophilia A required ≥ 6 claims per year for factor therapies or emicizumab, while moderate/severe hemophilia B necessitated ≥ 4 claims per year for factor therapies. Patients were included in the cohort in the year they first met the criteria and were subsequently retained in the cohort for the duration of the observation period. Standard-of-care included factor VIII replacement therapy/emicizumab for hemophilia A and factor IX replacement therapies for hemophilia B. Simulated patients received valoctocogene roxaparvovec or etranacogene dezaparvovec. Main measures were annual standard-of-care costs, cost offset, and breakeven time when using gene therapies. RESULTS: Colorado Medicaid's standard-of-care costs for hemophilia A and B were $426,000 [standard deviation (SD) $353,000] and $546,000 (SD $542,000) annually, respectively. Substituting standard-of-care with gene therapy for eligible patients yielded 8-year and 6-year average breakeven times, using real-world costs, compared with 5 years with published economic evaluation costs. Substantial variability in real-world standard-of-care costs resulted in a 48% and 59% probability of breakeven within 10 years for hemophilia A and B, respectively. Altering eligibility criteria significantly influenced breakeven time. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world data indicates substantial uncertainty and extended payback periods for gene therapy costs. Utilizing real-world data, Medicaid can negotiate value-based contracts to manage budget fluctuations, share risk with manufacturers, and enhance patient access to innovative treatments.

Dental hygiene clinical faculty attitudes and likelihood of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To identify circumstances that influenced dental hygiene clinical faculty's likelihood of working during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore attitudes (responsibilities, personal issues, ethics, and policy statements) about working. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used a purposive sample of dental hygienists (n = 1710) employed in academic clinical settings that held full-time, part-time, or adjunct appointments. The Health Care Workers' Attitudes to Working During a Pandemic survey was utilized. Likelihood scores were calculated based on respondents more or less likely to work under differing circumstances. Frequencies of agreement for attitudes were developed. Correlations were explored between likelihood scores and demographic data. Answers to the open-ended questions were categorized and described. RESULTS: The response rate was 13.5% (225/1710). Only one-third of respondents had a likelihood score of 100%. Factors with the greatest impact on likelihood to work were personal protective equipment. Almost all respondents' attitudes of working indicated that their employer is responsible for providing PPE. Over 90% felt their main responsibility was to themselves/family. Correlation analyses resulted in no significant associations between likelihood scores and age, etc. Faculty are considering leaving their jobs because of pay cuts and/or not feeling safe. CONCLUSION: Likelihood of working for dental hygiene faculty represents several personal and ethical decisions. Most respondents want employers to be responsible for their on-the-job safety. In addition, personal and work-related issues were causes of unease. The pandemic has had far-reaching implications on day-to-day work of dental hygiene clinical faculty as well as on the long-term trajectories and views on employment in higher education.

Filgrastim and infliximab biosimilar uptake in Medicare Advantage compared with Traditional Medicare, 2016-2019.

BACKGROUND: Medicare Advantage (MA) and Traditional Medicare face different financing structures and incentives and may implement different strategies to encourage biosimilar uptake. Strategies used by health insurers can influence biosimilar uptake, which can in turn promote savings to insurers and patients. OBJECTIVE: To compare filgrastim and infliximab biosimilar uptake between MA and Traditional Medicare from 2016 to 2019 and examine biosimilar uptake by different MA carriers and plan types (Health Maintenance Organization [HMO] or Preferred Provider Organization). METHODS: We use a 2016-2019 nationally representative random 20% sample of the carrier (physician) and outpatient paid claims for Traditional Medicare data and final-action carrier and outpatient records for MA data. We compare quarterly biosimilar uptake from 2016 to 2019 for the first 2 drugs with biosimilar competition: (1) filgrastim, (Neupogen, originator), and biosimilars tbo-filgrastim (GRANIX) and filgrastim-sndz (ZARXIO), and (2) infliximab (Remicade, originator), and biosimilars infliximab-dyyb (Inflectra) and infliximab-abda (Renflexis). RESULTS: From their introduction, there was consistently greater uptake of filgrastim and infliximab biosimilars in MA compared with Traditional Medicare. By Q4 2019, filgrastim biosimilar uptake was 7.6 percentage points higher in MA (80.3%) than Traditional Medicare (72.7%). By Q4 2019, infliximab biosimilar uptake was 28.7% and 15.4% in MA and Traditional Medicare, respectively. Kaiser HMO plans were primarily responsible for the higher uptake of biosimilars in MA; in Q4 2019, filgrastim and infliximab biosimilar uptake was 98.8% and 78.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that filgrastim and infliximab biosimilar uptake is greater in MA compared with Traditional Medicare, which is driven in part by particularly high uptake of biosimilars in MA Kaiser HMO plans. This highlights the need for future work to examine specific strategies and levers employed by MA Kaiser HMO plans and other insurers to increase biosimilar uptake, which can lead to cost savings for physician-administered drugs.