A study found that one in five pregnancies in Ontario did not receive syphilis screening in the first trimester, with delayed screening more common among equity-deserving populations. The rate of congenital syphilis in Canada increased by 220% since 2018, highlighting the need for improved prenatal screening.
A new study found that 9% of individuals who survived an opioid overdose in Ontario, Canada died within a year, with the highest risks occurring within seven and thirty days after discharge. People with prior overdose experiences were at increased risk of death.
A study found that physicians' workload increases in early pregnancy, with surgeons returning to work sooner after childbirth. The study suggests that stronger workplace supports can improve physician well-being and retention.
A new study found that patients experiencing socioeconomic marginalization are more likely to seek initial concussion care in hospital emergency departments, leading to lower follow-up rates. Patients without family physicians were up to 70% less likely to follow up.
A study found that refugee and immigrant children have lower rates of emergency department visits for minor illnesses compared to their Ontario-born peers. The researchers attribute this to the healthcare-navigation support they receive during early settlement.
A new study found a significant increase in psychotic disorders among Ontarians born after 1980, with incidence rates rising by 60% for those aged 14-20. The study suggests that recent birth cohorts may be experiencing increased exposure to risk factors such as early life substance use and older-aged parents.
A new study found that annual ADHD prescription rates increased by 157 percent in Ontario from 2015 to 2023, with significant increases in females and younger age groups. The authors suggest a potential rise in true cases of ADHD, improved diagnosis, or misdiagnosis as contributing factors.
A recent study by researchers at ICES and Sunnybrook Research Institute found that adults diagnosed with concussions are 50% more likely to be involved in a serious traffic crash. The study highlights the importance of prioritizing road safety after a concussion, including avoiding high-speed trips during late-night hours.
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities account for more than one in five patients who have been in Ontario's mental health beds for over a year. Enhancing specialized supports both in hospital and community settings can reduce their length of stay and admission rates.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that gestational carriers are at a higher risk of developing new-onset mental illness during and after pregnancy. The study analyzed data from over 767,000 births in Ontario, Canada and found that nearly 1 in 5 gestational carriers had a prior mental illness diagnosis before pregnancy.
A new Ontario study reveals socioeconomic disparities in concussion-related emergency department visits among children and youth. The study found that children from higher socioeconomic status groups had significantly more concussions requiring ED visits compared to those from lower socioeconomic status groups.
A study of 120,238 Ontario long-term care residents found that 20% became permanently unable to make everyday decisions, with 13% becoming totally dependent on care. Advance care directives reduced time spent living with severe disability.
A new study in The Lancet Public Health finds that safer supply programs complement existing treatment options for people struggling with opioid use disorder. Safer supply programs provide pharmaceutical-grade opioids to reduce overdose rates, healthcare utilization, and costs.
A new study found that individuals with hospital visits due to cannabis use were at a 23% and 72% greater risk of new dementia diagnoses within five years compared to those with ED visits or the general population. The study included 6 million adults aged 45 and older from Ontario, Canada.
A study found abortion rates remained steady in Ontario, Canada from 2020-2022, unlike countries across the UK and Europe. The researchers attribute this to Canada's policies supporting primary care and telemedicine abortion care.
A study found that transgender and gender diverse individuals have lower access to appropriate mental health care and support following a psychiatric hospitalization, yet better follow-up after an emergency department visit. The study suggests that transphobia in the hospital system contributes to this disparity.
A new study published in Circulation suggests that less than one in five patients are tested for cardiovascular risk factors following pregnancy-related hypertension or diabetes. This leaves women without adequate screening for high blood pressure, lipids, and sugars, increasing their risk of future stroke or heart disease.
A new study found that cannabis use disorder is increasingly associated with new schizophrenia cases in Ontario, with the proportion rising from 4% to 10%. The trend has tripled over the past 17 years, with heavy cannabis use linked to worsening symptoms and increased risk of psychosis.
A new study found that people with multiple sclerosis experience a significantly higher risk of perinatal mental illness compared to those with other chronic conditions. Depression and anxiety were the most common conditions reported, with half of people with MS living with a mental illness in the first year postpartum.
A new study found that individuals with hallucinogen-related emergency department visits are at a high risk of developing schizophrenia. The study analyzed health data for over 9.2 million individuals in Ontario, Canada, and found a 21-fold increased risk of schizophrenia compared to the general population.
A new study from ICES and the University of Toronto found that people with a history of concussion face a 25% higher risk of severe mental health issues after childbirth. Early screening and trauma-informed care could help protect new parents’ mental health.
A new study found that gestational carriers have a higher risk of severe complications during pregnancy, early postpartum, and related health issues compared to unassisted or IVF conception. The research analyzed linked health datasets for over 863,000 births in Ontario, Canada, between 2012-2021.
A new study found that individuals with eating disorders have a higher risk of death and poor health outcomes due to abnormal electrolyte levels. The research, led by ICES and The Ottawa Hospital, included over 6,000 individuals with an eating disorder, revealing that 32% had abnormal electrolyte levels.
A single dose of the Modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic (MVA-BN) vaccine was found to be 58% effective in preventing mpox infection in a recent study published in BMJ. The study used real-world health data to estimate the vaccine's effectiveness against mpox infection and included over 3,200 men who received the MVA-BN vaccine.
Patients with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total hip replacement have a five-fold increased risk of mortality within 10 years. Researchers found that PJI patients had a significantly higher 10-year mortality rate than those who didn't develop an infection, highlighting the need for prevention efforts and best practice gui...
Two classes of commonly prescribed oral antibiotics are associated with the greatest risk for severe drug rashes that can lead to emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and even death. Researchers suggest using lower-risk antibiotics when clinically appropriate.
A new study found that long-term care residents who receive primary care from family physicians speaking their language have lower rates of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and mortality. However, outcomes for Francophones were not impacted by language concordance.
A new study suggests that teens using cannabis are at an 11 times higher risk of developing a psychotic disorder compared to those not using cannabis. The research found a strong association between cannabis use and risk of psychotic disorder in adolescence, but not in young adulthood.
A new study found that publicly funded fertility programs in Ontario led to a significant decrease in the rate of multifetal pregnancies, but ovulation induction and intrauterine insemination remained contributors. The study also showed improvements in assisted reproductive technology contributing to the decline.
A new study found that people experiencing homelessness have a higher prevalence of dementia, especially in younger age groups. The researchers suggest that unhoused individuals should be screened for dementia at younger ages due to the complexity of diagnosing the condition in this population.
A new study published in The Lancet's eClinical Medicine found that 27% of individuals who visited emergency departments for cannabis use developed a new anxiety disorder within three years. Heavy cannabis use may worsen existing symptoms and delay evidence-based treatments.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that patients who received virtual care from their own family doctor were less likely to visit the emergency department within seven days. In contrast, those receiving virtual care from an outside physician were 66% more likely to do so.
A new study reveals a disproportionate increase in pediatric eating disorder hospitalizations, particularly among males, younger teens, and those with eating disorders other than anorexia or bulimia. Hospitalizations rose by 139% over 17 years, with the greatest increases seen for these atypical groups.
A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that infants born to mothers who received an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy had lower risks of severe health outcomes, neonatal death, and NICU admission. The study also showed no increase in newborn and six-month readmissions to the NICU.
A new study found that people experiencing homelessness accounted for one in six fatal opioid-related deaths in Ontario, reaching 16.8% by 2021. The quarterly proportion of opioid-related overdose deaths among unhoused individuals increased from 7.2% to 16.8% over four years.
A new study found that individuals visiting the emergency department for substance-induced psychosis have an 18.5% risk of developing schizophrenia within three years. Younger age and male sex were associated with a higher risk, particularly for cannabis use.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that the commercialization of cannabis in Ontario, Canada led to a significant increase in emergency department visits for cannabis-involved traffic injuries, with rates rising by 475% over 13 years.
A new study from Women's College Hospital and ICES found that older females with atrial fibrillation are at higher stroke risk due to inadequate monitoring and treatment, highlighting sex inequities in cardiovascular care.
A new study from ICES and CAMH found that autistic females have an 83% increased risk of self-harm, while autistic males have a 47% greater risk of self-harm events. The study calls for improved mental health support tailored to the needs of autistic individuals.
A new study found a 67% increase in hospital encounters for benzodiazepine-related toxicity among young adults and a 44% rise in youth aged 18 or below in Ontario between 2013 and 2020. The increased risk is attributed to the growing presence of non-pharmaceutical benzodiazepines in the unregulated opioid supply.
A new decision support tool used in emergency departments has been shown to reduce 30-day all-cause death or cardiovascular hospitalization rates by 12% in heart failure patients. The validated tool, developed using data analytics, helps clinicians determine risk categories and inform admission or discharge decisions.
A study by researchers at ICES, Lawson Health Research Institute, and Western University found that virtual care during the pandemic led to significant environmental and patient cost savings. Virtual visits represented approximately 0.2% of total annual carbon dioxide emissions in Ontario and estimated $63 million in patient cost savings.
A study of 2.7 million children in Ontario found no overall increase in new diabetes diagnoses during the pandemic, but a possible delay in diagnosis and a catch-up effect later on. The researchers also discovered that fewer cases were documented early on in the pandemic.
Rates of diabetes among Ontario children rose by 3% per year from 1994 to 2004, according to an ICES study. The highest incidence rate was found in 10- to 14-year-olds, with genetic susceptibility and environmental factors like obesity contributing to the trend.
A study by ICES found that doctors in Ontario's Family Health Network (FHN) model had fewer visits with chronically ill patients and provided less after-hours care. The FHN model pays doctors based on a capitation payment system, whereas the fee-for-service model paid per visit.
Researchers from Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences found that even mild abnormalities in glucose testing during pregnancy increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Women with these mild abnormalities are 2.5 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those with normal glucose testing.