Exploring the prospective acceptability of a healthy food incentive program from the perspective of people with type 2 diabetes and experiences of household food insecurity in Alberta, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: FoodRx is a 12-month healthy food prescription incentive program for people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and experiences of household food insecurity. In this study, we aimed to explore potential users' prospective acceptability (acceptability prior to program use) of the design and delivery of the FoodRx incentive and identify factors influencing prospective acceptability. DESIGN: We used a qualitative descriptive approach and purposive sampling to recruit individuals who were interested or uninterested in using the FoodRx incentive. Semi-structured interviews were guided by the theoretical framework of acceptability, and corresponding interview transcripts were analysed using differential qualitative analysis guided by the socioecological model. SETTING: Individuals living in Alberta, Canada. PARTICIPANTS: In total, fifteen adults with T2DM and experiences of household food insecurity. RESULTS: People who were interested in using the FoodRx incentive (n 10) perceived it to be more acceptable than those who were uninterested (n 5). We identified four themes that captured factors that influenced users' prospective acceptability: (i) participants' confidence, views and beliefs of FoodRx design and delivery and its future use (intrapersonal), (ii) the shopping routines and roles of individuals in participants' social networks (interpersonal), (iii) access to and experience with food retail outlets (community), and (iv) income and food access support to cope with the cost of living (policy). CONCLUSION: Future healthy food prescription programs should consider how factors at all levels of the socioecological model influence program acceptability and use these data to inform program design and delivery.

Risk of Breast Cancer After Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Population-based Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of several cancers, including postmenopausal breast cancer. The evidence for higher breast cancer risk after diabetes in pregnancy is conflicting. We compared the incidence of breast and other cancers between pregnant women with and without diabetes. METHODS: This work was a propensity-matched, retrospective cohort study using population-based health-care databases from Ontario, Canada. Those deliveries with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and pregestational diabetes mellitus (pregestational DM) were identified and matched to deliveries without diabetes mellitus (non-DM). Deliveries from each diabetes cohort were matched 1:2 on age, parity, year of delivery, and propensity score to non-DM deliveries. Matched subjects were followed from delivery for incidence of breast cancer as a primary outcome, and other site-specific cancers as secondary outcomes. We performed Cox proportional hazards regression to compare rates of breast cancer between matched groups. RESULTS: Over a median of 8 (interquartile range 4 to 13) years of follow-up, compared with non-DM deliveries, the incidence of breast cancer was significantly lower for GDM but similar for pregestational DM deliveries (hazard ratio [HR] 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.82 to 0.98; and HR 0.92, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.07, respectively). GDM was associated with a significantly higher incidence of pancreatic and hepatocellular cancer, and pregestational DM was associated with a higher incidence of thyroid, hepatocellular, and endometrial cancers. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes in pregnancy does not have a higher short-term risk of subsequent breast cancer, but there may be a higher incidence of other cancers.

Salpingectomy and the Risk of Ovarian Cancer in Ontario.

Importance: A body of pathological and clinical evidence supports the position that the fallopian tube is the site of origin for a large proportion of high-grade serous ovarian cancers. Consequently, salpingectomy is now considered for permanent contraception (in lieu of tubal ligation) or ovarian cancer prevention (performed opportunistically at the time of surgical procedures for benign gynecologic conditions). Objective: To evaluate the association between salpingectomy and the risk of invasive epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based retrospective cohort study included all women aged 18 to 80 years who were eligible for health care services in Ontario, Canada. Participants were identified using administrative health databases from Ontario between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2019. A total of 131 516 women were included in the primary (matched) analysis. Women were followed up until December 31, 2021. Exposures: Salpingectomy (with and without hysterectomy) vs no pelvic procedure (control condition) among women in the general population. Main Outcomes and Measures: Women with a unilateral or bilateral salpingectomy in Ontario between April 1, 1992, and December 31, 2019, were matched 1:3 to women with no pelvic procedure from the general population. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancer combined. Results: Among 131 516 women (mean [SD] age, 42.2 [7.6] years), 32 879 underwent a unilateral or bilateral salpingectomy, and 98 637 did not undergo a pelvic procedure. After a mean (range) follow-up of 7.4 (0-29.2) years in the salpingectomy group and 7.5 (0-29.2) years in the nonsurgical control group, there were 31 incident cancers (0.09%) and 117 incident cancers (0.12%), respectively (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.55-1.21). The HR for cancer incidence was 0.87 (95% CI, 0.53-1.44) when comparing those with salpingectomy vs those with hysterectomy alone. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study, no association was found between salpingectomy and the risk of ovarian cancer; however, this observation was based on few incident cases and a relatively short follow-up time. Studies with additional years of follow-up are necessary to define the true level of potential risk reduction with salpingectomy, although longer follow-up will also be a challenge unless collaborative efforts that pool data are undertaken.

Fracture risk among patients with cancer compared to individuals without cancer: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer may be at increased risk of osteoporosis and fracture; however, gaps exist in the existing literature and the association between cancer and fracture requires further examination. METHODS: We conducted a population-based cohort study of Ontario patients with cancer (breast, prostate, lung, gastrointestinal, haematologic) diagnosed between January 2007 to December 2018 and 1:1 matched non-cancer controls. The primary outcome was incident fracture (end of follow-up December 2019). Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the relative fracture risk with sensitivity analysis accounting for competing risk of death. RESULTS: Among 172,963 cancer patients with non-cancer controls, 70.6% of patients with cancer were <65 years old, 58% were female, and 9375 and 8141 fracture events were observed in the cancer and non-cancer group, respectively (median follow-up 6.5 years). Compared to non-cancer controls, patients with cancer had higher risk of fracture (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.10, 95% CI 1.07-1.14, p < 0.0001), which was also observed for both solid (aHR 1.09, 95% CI 1.05-1.13, p < 0.0001) and haematologic cancers (aHR 1.20, 95% CI 1.10-1.31, p < 0.0001). Sensitivity analysis accounting for competing risk of death did not change these findings. CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicates that patients with cancer are at modest risk of fractures compared to non-cancer controls.

The association between immigration status and the development of type 2 diabetes in women with a prior diagnosis of gestational diabetes: A population-based study.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to examine the influence of immigration status and region of origin on the risk of type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes (GDM). METHODS: This retrospective population-based cohort study included women with gestational diabetes (GDM) aged 16 to 50 years in Ontario, Canada, who gave birth between 2006 and 2014. We compared the incidence of type 2 diabetes after delivery between long-term residents and immigrants-overall, by time since immigration and by region of-using Cox regression adjusted for age, year, neighbourhood income, rurality, infant birth weight and presence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). RESULTS: Among 38,515 women with prior GDM (42% immigrants), immigrants had a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes compared with long-term residents (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.19, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-1.26), with no meaningful difference based on time since immigration. The highest adjusted relative risks of type 2 diabetes compared with long-term residents were found for immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa (HR 1.63, 95% CI 1.40-1.90), Latin America/Caribbean (HR 1.44, 95% CI 1.28-1.62) and South Asia (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.25-1.44). CONCLUSIONS: Immigration is associated with a significantly higher risk of type 2 diabetes after GDM, particularly for women from certain low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes prevention strategies will need to consider the unique needs of immigrants from these regions.

Improving diagnosis and treatment of knee osteoarthritis in persons with type 2 diabetes: development of a complex intervention.

BACKGROUND: Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) commonly co-occurs in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and increases the risk for diabetes complications, yet uptake of evidence-based treatment is low. We combined theory, stakeholder involvement and existing evidence to develop a multifaceted intervention to improve OA care in persons with T2DM. This was done in partnership with Arthritis Society Canada to leverage the existing infrastructure and provincial funding for community arthritis care. METHODS: Each step was informed by a User Advisory Panel of stakeholder representatives, including persons with lived experience. First, we identified the target groups and behaviours through consulting stakeholders and current literature. Second, we interviewed persons living with T2DM and knee OA (n = 18), health professionals (HPs) who treat people with T2DM (n = 18) and arthritis therapists (ATs, n = 18) to identify the determinants of seeking and engaging in OA care (patients), assessing and treating OA (HPs) and considering T2DM in OA treatment (ATs), using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). We mapped the content to behavioural change techniques (BCTs) to identify the potential intervention components. Third, we conducted stakeholder meetings to ascertain the acceptability and feasibility of intervention components, including content and modes of delivery. Fourth, we selected intervention components informed by prior steps and constructed a programme theory to inform the implementation of the intervention and its evaluation. RESULTS: We identified the barriers and enablers to target behaviours across a number of TDF domains. All stakeholders identified insufficient access to resources to support OA care in people with T2DM. Core intervention components, incorporating a range of BCTs at the patient, HP and AT level, sought to identify persons with knee OA within T2DM care and refer to Arthritis Society Canada for delivery of evidence-based longitudinal OA management. Diverse stakeholder input throughout development allowed the co-creation of an intervention that appears feasible and acceptable to target users. CONCLUSIONS: We integrated theory, evidence and stakeholder involvement to develop a multifaceted intervention to increase the identification of knee OA in persons with T2DM within diabetes care and improve the uptake and engagement in evidence-based OA management. Our partnership with Arthritis Society Canada supports future spread, scalability and sustainability. We will formally assess the intervention feasibility in a randomized pilot trial.

Increased Breast and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Type 2 Diabetes: Awareness Among Adults With and Without Diabetes and Information Provision on Diabetes Websites.

BACKGROUND: People with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have a higher risk of developing breast and bowel cancers but are less likely to participate in cancer screening. PURPOSE: Two interlinked studies examined public awareness of the fact that T2DM increases breast and bowel cancer risk, and provision of this information on diabetes websites. METHODS: Study-1: phase-1 surveyed awareness of T2DM-increased cancer risk in a nationally-representative British sample aged 50-74 (N = 1,458) and compared respondents with and without T2DM (n = 125 vs. n = 1,305); phase-2 surveyed an additional exclusively T2DM sample (N = 319). Study-2: High-ranking diabetes websites (N = 25) were reviewed to determine the rate of inclusion of cancer risk and cancer screening information in evident sections about diabetes-related health conditions. RESULTS: A low proportion of respondents were aware that T2DM increases risk of breast (13.7%) and bowel (27.6%) cancers, compared to much higher awareness of other diabetes-related conditions such as sight loss (82.2%) and foot problems (81.8%). Respondents with T2DM were significantly more likely than those without T2DM to be aware of all the surveyed diabetes-related health conditions (e.g., sight loss, OR: 3.14, 95%CI: 1.61-6.15; foot problems, OR: 2.58, 95%CI: 1.38-4.81), except breast (OR: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.46-1.45) and bowel (OR: 0.95, 95%CI: 0.63-1.45) cancer, for which awareness was equally low among people with and without T2DM. Few diabetes websites with a section on diabetes-related health conditions included cancer in this section (n = 4/19), and fewer still included cancer screening among any noted cancer-protective behaviors (n = 2/4). CONCLUSIONS: There is low public awareness that T2DM increases the risk of developing breast and bowel cancers, even among people with T2DM, which may be partly due to limited information provision regarding T2DM-increased cancer risk from diabetes care providers and organizations.

People with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have a higher risk of developing breast and bowel cancers. Despite this, they are less likely to participate in cancer screening, which can improve survival from cancer. We addressed two questions. Are people aware that T2D increases the risk of breast and bowel cancer? Are people being told about this by diabetes care providers and organizations? We surveyed a large representative sample of the British public (aged 50­74). We also reviewed key information about diabetes-related health problems provided on 25 top-ranking diabetes websites. There were three main findings. (1) Relatively few people knew that T2D increases the risk of breast and bowel cancer. In contrast, many people knew that T2D increases the risk of other conditions like sight loss, foot problems, and heart disease. (2) Awareness of higher cancer risk was equally low among people with T2D and those without. In contrast, knowledge of other diabetes-related conditions (e.g., sight loss, foot problems) was higher among people with T2D than those without. (3) Few websites included cancer in their key information about diabetes-related health problems. In contrast, nearly all the diabetes websites listed the more well-known risks of sight loss, foot problems, and heart disease.

Outcomes in children of women with type 2 diabetes exposed to metformin versus placebo during pregnancy (MiTy Kids): a 24-month follow-up of the MiTy randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Metformin is increasingly being used during pregnancy, with potentially adverse long-term effects on children. We aimed to examine adiposity in children of women with type 2 diabetes from the Metformin in Women with Type 2 Diabetes in Pregnancy (MiTy) trial, with and without in-utero exposure to metformin, up to 24 months of age. METHODS: MiTy Kids is a follow-up study that included infants of women who participated in the MiTy randomised controlled trial, receiving either oral 1000 mg metformin twice daily or placebo. Caregivers and researchers remained masked to the type of medication (metformin or placebo) mothers received during their pregnancy. Anthropometric measurements, including weight, height, and skinfold thicknesses, were taken at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. At 24 months, linear regression was used to compare the BMI Z score and sum of skinfolds in the metformin versus placebo groups, adjusted for confounders. Fractional polynomials were used to assess growth trajectories. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01832181. FINDINGS: Of the 465 eligible children, 283 (61%) were included from 19 centres in Canada and Australia. At 24 months, there was no difference between groups in mean BMI Z score (0·84 [SD 1·52] with metformin vs 0·91 [1·38] with placebo; mean difference 0·07 [95% CI -0·31 to 0·45], p=0·72) or mean sum of skinfolds (23·0 mm [5·2] vs 23·8 mm [5·4]; mean difference 0·8 mm [-0·7 to 2·3], p=0·31). Metformin was not a predictor of BMI Z score at 24 months of age (mean difference -0·01 [95% CI -0·42 to 0·37], p=0·92). There was no overall difference in BMI trajectory but, in males, trajectories were significantly different by treatment (p=0·048); BMI in the metformin group was higher between 6 and 24 months. Children of women with type 2 diabetes were approximately 1 SD heavier than the WHO reference population. INTERPRETATION: Anthropometrics were similar in children exposed and those not exposed to metformin in utero; hence, overall, data are reassuring with regard to the use of metformin during pregnancy in women with type 2 diabetes and the long-term health of their children. FUNDING: Canadian Institute for Health Research.

Growing Income-Related Disparities in Cardiovascular Hospitalizations Among People With Diabetes, 1995-2019: A Population-Based Study.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiovascular risk reduction is an important focus in the management of people with diabetes. Although event rates have been declining over the long term, they have been observed to plateau or reverse in recent years. Furthermore, the impact of income-related disparities in cardiovascular events is unknown. The objective of this study is to evaluate age-, sex-, and income-related trends in cardiovascular hospitalization rates among people with diagnosed diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We calculated rates of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and lower-extremity amputation in annual cohorts of the entire population of Ontario, Canada, with diagnosed diabetes, from 1995 to 2019. Event rates were stratified by age, sex, and income level. RESULTS: We studied nearly 1.7 million people with diabetes. The rate of acute myocardial infarction declined throughout the 25-year study period (P < 0.0001), such that the rate in 2019 was less than half the rate in 1995. Rates of stroke (P < 0.0001), heart failure (P < 0.0001), and amputation (P < 0.0001) also changed over time, but hospitalization rates stabilized through the 2010s. This apparent stabilization concealed a growing income-related disparity: wealthier patients showed continued declines in rates of these outcomes during the decade, whereas rates for lower-income patients increased (P for interaction < 0.0001 for all four outcomes). CONCLUSIONS: During a quarter-century of follow-up, cardiovascular hospitalization rates among people with diabetes fell. However, the apparent stabilization in rates of stroke, heart failure, and amputation in recent years masks the fact that rates have risen for lower-income individuals.

Patterns of diabetes testing for older adults without diabetes in Ontario's nursing homes: A population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic diabetes testing may be of limited value for older nursing home residents, but most diabetes guidelines lack upper-age cutoffs for screening cessation. We evaluated patterns of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and serum blood glucose (SBG) testing among older residents without diabetes in Ontario, Canada. METHODS: This population-based retrospective cohort study used provincial health administrative data from ICES to identify older nursing home residents in Ontario without diabetes between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018. We examined HbA1c and glucose testing rates overall, by age, sex, and near end-of-life. The number of tests needed to identify one case of diabetes (using HbA1c thresholds of 6.5% and 8.0%) were also calculated. RESULTS: Among 102,923 older nursing home residents (70.3% women; average age 85.6 ± SD 7.7 years), 46.1% of residents received ≥1 HbA1c test over an average follow-up period of 2.15 (± SD 1.49) years, and 18.2% of these tested residents received ≥4 HbA1c tests. The crude HbA1c testing rate was 52.6 tests/100 person-years (95% CI 52.3-52.9). Testing rates among residents aged ≥80 years was 50.7 HbA1c tests/100 person-years (95% CI 50.4-51.0), and 47.8 tests/100 person-years (95% CI 46.5-49.0) among residents near end-of-life. The number of tests to identify a case of diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 6.5%) was 44, while the number of tests to identify a case of actionable diabetes (HbA1c ≥ 8%) was 310. Less than 1% of residents with an HbA1c test met criteria for actionable diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing home residents without diabetes receive frequent diabetes testing, with high testing rates even in residents over 80 years old and residents near end-of-life. The high number of tests needed to identify a case of actionable diabetes highlights the urgent need to re-evaluate diabetes testing practices in nursing homes.

The association between offspring birthweight and future risk of maternal diabetes: A population-based study.

AIMS: As an indicator of maternal cardiometabolic health, newborn birthweight may be an important predictor of maternal type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes). We evaluated the relation between offspring birthweight and onset of maternal diabetes after pregnancy. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used linked population-based health databases from Ontario, Canada. We included women aged 16-50 years without pre-pregnancy diabetes, and who had a live birth between 2006 and 2014. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to evaluate the association between age- and sex-standardized offspring birthweight percentile categories and incident maternal diabetes, while adjusting for maternal age, parity, year, ethnicity, gestational diabetes (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Results were further stratified by the presence of GDM in the index pregnancy. RESULTS: Of 893,777 eligible participants, 14,329 (1.6%) women were diagnosed with diabetes over a median (IQR) of 4.4 (1.5-7.4) years of follow-up. There was a continuous positive relation between newborn birthweight above the 75th percentile and maternal diabetes. Relative to a birthweight between the 50th and 74.9th percentiles, women whose newborn had a birthweight between the 97th and 100th percentiles had an adjusted hazards ratio (aHR) of diabetes of 2.30 (95% CI 2.16-2.46), including an aHR of 2.01 (95% CI 1.83-2.21) among those with GDM, and 2.59 (2.36-2.84) in those without GDM. CONCLUSIONS: A higher offspring birthweight signals an increased risk of maternal diabetes, offering another potentially useful way to identify women especially predisposed to diabetes.

Validation of Algorithms to Identify Gestational Diabetes From Population-level Health-care Administrative Data.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim in this study was to determine the test characteristics of algorithms using hospitalization and physician claims data to predict gestational diabetes (GDM). METHODS: Using population-level health-care administrative data, we identified all pregnant women in Ontario in 2019. The presence of GDM was determined based on glucose screening laboratory results. Algorithms using hospitalization records and/or physician claims were tested against this "gold standard." The selected algorithm was applied to administrative data records from 1999 to 2019 to determine GDM prevalence in each year. RESULTS: Identifying GDM based on either a diabetes mellitus code on the delivery hospitalization record, OR at least 1 physician claim with a diabetes diagnosis code with a 90-day lookback before delivery yielded a sensitivity of 95.9%, a specificity of 99.2% and a positive predictive value of 87.6%. The prevalence of GDM increased from 4.2% of pregnancies in 1999 to 12.0% in 2019. CONCLUSION: Algorithms using hospitalization or physician claims administrative data can accurately identify GDM.

Risk of Adverse Cardiovascular Outcomes in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Long-term cardiovascular (CV) risk is a concern for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) survivors. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the risks of CV mortality and morbidity in DTC survivors compared with the general population. Respective meta-analyses were conducted for data that were adjusted for relevant confounders and crude data. We searched five electronic databases from inception to October 2021, supplemented with a hand search. Two reviewers independently screened citations, reviewed full text articles, extracted data, and critically appraised the studies, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. The primary outcome was CV mortality. Secondary outcomes included atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and heart failure. We estimated the relative risk (RR) and confidence intervals [CI] of outcomes using random-effects models (adjusted for age and gender), compared with the general population. Results: We reviewed 3409 unique citations, 65 full text articles, and included 7 studies. CV mortality risk was significantly increased in DTC survivors in one study adjusted for confounders-adjusted RR (aRR) 3.35 ([CI 1.66-6.67]; 524 DTC, 1572 controls). The risk of CV morbidity in DTC survivors, adjusted for risk factors, was estimated as follows: atrial fibrillation-aRR 1.66 [CI 1.22-2.27] (3 studies, 4428 DTC, I2 = 75%), ischemic heart disease-aRR 0.97 [CI 0.84-1.13] (2 studies, 3910 DTC, I2 = 0%), stroke-aRR 1.14 [CI 0.84-1.55] (2 studies, 3910 DTC, I2 = 69%), and heart failure-aRR 0.98 [CI 0.60-1.59] (2 studies, 3910 DTC, I2 = 79%). In meta-analyses of unadjusted data, the risks of CV mortality were not significantly increased but the CV morbidity risks were similar to adjusted data. Conclusions: There is limited evidence suggesting that DTC survivors may be at an increased risk of CV death and atrial fibrillation (after adjustment for confounders). We did not observe a significantly increased risk of ischemic heart disease, stroke, or heart failure. Most analyses were subject to significant heterogeneity and further research, with careful attention to CV risk factors, is needed to clarify CV risk in DTC survivors. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42021244743.

Associations Among Biomarkers of Inflammation, Tubular Injury and Lipid Metabolism With Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Status, Microalbuminuria and Retinopathy in the Microalbuminuria and Retinopathy in Gestational Diabetes Study.

OBJECTIVES: Pregnancy may be complicated by gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and/or microvascular complications like albuminuria, retinopathy and pre-eclampsia. In this study we aimed to identify whether mechanistic pathways associated with microvascular complications are active in pregnant women with GDM or microvascular disease. METHODS: Urinary albumin excretion and biomarkers of inflammation, lipoprotein metabolism and tubular injury were quantified in 355 pregnant women with and without GDM. Participants underwent fundus photography graded for retinopathy. Adjusted associations between individual biomarkers and each outcome variable of interest, including GDM status, albuminuria and retinopathy, were performed using logistic regression. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index and ethnicity, significant associations between GDM status and apolipoprotein A1, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor-I and -II (sTNFR-I and -II), vascular endothelial growth factor and von Willebrand factor were observed. Increased high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and sTNFR-II were associated with higher levels of albuminuria. hsCRP and previous GDM were associated with retinopathy. CONCLUSION: Mechanistic pathways associated with microvascular complications appear to be active in pregnant women with GDM or microvascular disease.

Barriers and enablers to health care providers assessment and treatment of knee osteoarthritis in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study using the Theoretical Domains Framework.

Objectives: Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) commonly co-exists in persons with Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and may impede diabetes self-management. Yet, OA is often underdiagnosed and undertreated due to competing health care demands. We sought to determine healthcare providers' (HCPs') perceptions of the barriers and enablers to assessing and treating knee OA in persons with T2DM. Design: We conducted 18 semi-structured telephone interviews with HCPs who manage persons with T2DM (family physicians, endocrinologists, diabetes educators). Interviews were analyzed deductively using Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), a framework developed to comprehensively identify behavioural determinants. Within relevant domains, data were thematically analyzed to generate belief statements, and these were compared across the different HCP disciplines. Results: Six TDF domains influenced HCPs behaviour to assess and treat knee OA in persons with T2DM. For all HCPs, important barriers included not seeing assessment/treatment of joint pain as a priority for their patients (intention), and insufficient access to required resources such as physiotherapy to treat OA (environmental context and resources). Endocrinologists and diabetes educators perceived having insufficient knowledge and skills to identify and manage OA (knowledge, skills), did not consider it within their professional role to do so (professional role and identity), and perceived other physicians would not want to receive a referral for OA care (social influences). Conclusions: We identified barriers and enablers encountered by diabetes HCPs to assessing and treating knee OA in persons with T2DM involving multiple domains of the TDF. These will help inform development of a complex intervention to improve health outcomes.

Understanding the behavioural determinants of seeking and engaging in care for knee osteoarthritis in persons with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework.

Objectives: Symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) frequently co-occurs in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In the context of T2DM, OA is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. To elucidate strategies to improve OA care in persons with T2DM, we assessed their perceptions of the barriers and enablers to seeking and engaging in OA care. Design: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 individuals with T2DM and symptomatic knee OA in Ontario, Canada. Transcripts were deductively coded using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF), an implementation science framework that incorporates theoretical domains of behaviour determinants, which can be linked to behaviour change techniques. Within each of the relevant domains, data were thematically analyzed to generate belief statements. Results: Seven of the TDF domains prominently influenced the behaviour to seek and engage in OA care. Participants described insufficient receipt of OA knowledge to fully engage in care (knowledge), feeling incapable of participating in physical activity due to joint pain (beliefs about capabilities), uncertainty about effectiveness of therapies (optimism) and lack of guidance from health care providers and insufficient access to community programs/supports (environmental context and resources). Key enablers were strong social support (social influences), sources of accountability (behavioural regulation) and experiencing benefit from treatment (reinforcement). Participants did not see concomitant T2DM as limiting the desire to seek OA care. Conclusions: Among individuals with symptomatic knee OA and T2DM, we identified behavioural determinants of seeking and engaging in OA care. These will be mapped to behavioural change techniques to inform development of a complex intervention.

Implementation Plan for a High-Frequency, Low-Touch Care Model at Specialized Type 1 Diabetes Clinics: Model Development.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are more likely to achieve optimal glycemic management when they have frequent visits with their health care team. There is a potential benefit of frequent, telemedicine interventions as an effective strategy to lower hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). OBJECTIVE: The objective is this study was to understand the provider- and system-level factors affecting the successful implementation of a virtual care intervention in type 1 diabetes (T1D) clinics. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with managers and certified diabetes educators (CDEs) at diabetes clinics across Southern Ontario before the COVID-19 pandemic. Deductive analysis was carried out using the Theoretical Domains Framework, followed by mapping to behavior change techniques to inform potential implementation strategies for high-frequency virtual care for T1D. RESULTS: There was considerable intention to deliver high-frequency virtual care to patients with T1D. Participants believed that this model of care could lead to improved patient outcomes and engagement but would likely increase the workload of CDEs. Some felt there were insufficient resources at their site to enable them to participate in the program. Member checking conducted during the pandemic revealed that clinics and staff had already developed strategies to overcome resource barriers to the adoption of virtual care during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: Existing enablers for high-frequency virtual care for T1D can be leveraged, and barriers can be overcome with targeted clinical incentives and support.

Access to diagnostic imaging and incidental detection of differentiated thyroid cancer in Ontario: A population-based retrospective cohort study.

Global increases in thyroid cancer incidence (≥90% differentiated thyroid cancers; DTC) are hypothesized to be related to increased use of pre-diagnostic imaging. These procedures can detect DTC during imaging for conditions unrelated to the thyroid (incidental detection). The objectives were to evaluate incidental detection of DTC associated with standardized, regional imaging capacity and drivetime from patient residence to imaging facility (the exposures). We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of 32,097 DTC patients in Ontario, 2003-2017. We employed sex-specific spatial Bayesian hierarchical models to evaluate the exposures and examine the adjusted odds of incidental detection by administrative regions. Regional capacities of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scanners are positively associated with incidental detection, but vary by sex. Contrary to hypothesis, drivetimes in urban areas are positively associated with incidental detection. Access to primary care may play a role in several administrative regions with higher adjusted odds of incidental detection.