DO IT Trial: vitamin D Outcomes and Interventions in Toddlers - a TARGet Kids! randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundVitamin D levels are alarmingly low (<75 nmol/L) in 65-70% of North American children older than 1 year. An increased risk of viral upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), asthma-related hospitalizations and use of anti-inflammatory medication have all been linked with low vitamin D. No study has determined whether wintertime vitamin D supplementation can reduce the risk of URTI and asthma exacerbations, two of the most common and costly illnesses of early childhood. The objectives of this study are: 1) to compare the effect of 'high dose' (2000 IU/day) vs. 'standard dose' (400 IU/day) vitamin D supplementation in achieving reductions in laboratory confirmed URTI and asthma exacerbations during the winter in preschool-aged Canadian children; and 2) to assess the effect of 'high dose' vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D serum levels and specific viruses that cause URTI.Methods/designThis study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Over 4 successive winters we will recruit 750 healthy children 1-5 years of age. Participating physicians are part of a primary healthcare research network called TARGet Kids!. Children will be randomized to the 'standard dose' or 'high dose' oral supplemental vitamin D for a minimum of 4 months (200 children per group). Parents will obtain a nasal swab from their child with each URTI, report the number of asthma exacerbations and complete symptom checklists. Unscheduled physician visits for URTIs and asthma exacerbations will be recorded. By May, a blood sample will be drawn to determine vitamin D serum levels. The primary analysis will be a comparison of URTI rate between study groups using a Poisson regression model. Secondary analyses will compare vitamin D serum levels, asthma exacerbations and the frequency of specific viral agents between groups.DiscussionIdentifying whether vitamin D supplementation of preschoolers can reduce wintertime viral URTIs and asthma exacerbations and what dose is optimal may reduce population wide morbidity and associated health care and societal costs. This information will assist in determining practice and health policy recommendations related to vitamin D supplementation in healthy Canadian preschoolers

Reducing gender disparities in post-total knee arthroplasty expectations through a decision aid

BACKGROUND: Gender disparities in total knee arthroplasty utilization may be due to differences in perceptions and expectations about total knee arthroplasty outcomes. This study evaluates the impact of a decision aid on perceptions about total knee arthroplasty and decision-making parameters among patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: Patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis viewed a video about knee osteoarthritis treatments options, including total knee arthroplasty, and received a personalized arthritis report. An adapted version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index was used to assess pain and physical function expectations following total knee arthroplasty before/after the intervention. These scores were compared to an age- and gender-adjusted means for a cohort of patients who had undergone total knee arthroplasty. Decision readiness and conflict were also measured. RESULTS: At baseline, both men and women had poorer expectations about post-operative pain and physical outcomes compared with observed outcomes of the comparator group. Following the intervention, women’s mean age-adjusted expectations about post- total knee arthroplasty pain outcomes improved (Pre: 27.0; Post: 21.8 [p =0.08; 95% CI −0.7, 11.0]) and were closer to observed post-TKA outcomes; whereas men did not have a significant change in their pain expectations (Pre: 21.3; Post: 19.6 [p = 0.6; 95% CI −5.8, 9.4]). Women also demonstrated a significant improvement in decision readiness; whereas men did not. Both genders had less decision conflict after the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Both women and men with osteoarthritis had poor estimates of total knee arthroplasty outcomes. Women responded to the intervention with more accurate total knee arthroplasty outcome expectations and greater decision readiness. Improving patient knowledge of total knee arthroplasty through a decision aid may improve medical decision-making and reduce gender disparities in total knee arthroplasty utilization. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12891-015-0473-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Trends in health services utilization, medication use, and health conditions among older adults: a 2-year retrospective chart review in a primary care practice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Population aging poses significant challenges to primary care providers and healthcare policy makers. Primary care reform can alleviate the pressures, but these initiatives require clinical benchmarks and evidence regarding utilization patterns. The objectives of this study is to measure older patients' use of health services, number of health conditions, and use of medications at the level of a primary care practice, and to investigate age- and gender-related utilization trends.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional chart audit over a 2-year study period was conducted in the academic family practice clinic of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. All patients 65 years and older (n = 2450) were included. Main outcome measures included the number of family physician visits, specialist visits, emergency room visits, surgical admissions, diagnostic test days, inpatient hospital admissions, health conditions, and medications.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Older patients (80-84 and 85+ age-group) had significantly more family physician visits (average of 4.4 visits per person per year), emergency room visits (average of 0.22 ER visits per year per patient), diagnostic days (average of 5.1 test days per person per year), health conditions (average of 7.7 per patient), and medications average of 8.2 medications per person). Gender differences were also observed: females had significantly more family physician visits and number of medications, while men had more specialist visits, emergency room visits, and surgical admissions. There were no gender differences for inpatient hospital admissions and number of health conditions. With the exception of the 85+ age group, we found greater intra-group variability with advancing age.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data present a map of greater interaction with and dependency on the health care system with advancing age. The magnitudes are substantial and indicate high demands on patients and families, on professional health care providers, and on the health care system itself. There is the need to create and evaluate innovative models of care of multiple chronic conditions in the late life course.</p

Infection after primary hip arthroplasty: A comparison of 3 Norwegian health registers

Background and purpose: The aim of the present study was to assess incidence of and risk factors for infection after hip arthroplasty in data from 3 national health registries. We investigated differences in risk patterns between surgical site infection (SSI) and revision due to infection after primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hemiarthroplasty (HA). Materials and methods: This observational study was based on prospective data from 2005–2009 on primary THAs and HAs from the Norwegian Arthroplasty Register (NAR), the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register (NHFR), and the Norwegian Surveillance System for Healthcare–Associated Infections (NOIS). The Norwegian Patient Register (NPR) was used for evaluation of case reporting. Cox regression analyses were performed with revision due to infection as endpoint for data from the NAR and the NHFR, and with SSI as the endpoint for data from the NOIS. Results: The 1–year incidence of SSI in the NOIS was 3.0% after THA (167/5,540) and 7.3% after HA (103/1,416). The 1–year incidence of revision due to infection was 0.7% for THAs in the NAR (182/24,512) and 1.5% for HAs in the NHFR (128/8,262). Risk factors for SSI after THA were advanced age, ASA class higher than 2, and short duration of surgery. For THA, the risk factors for revision due to infection were male sex, advanced age, ASA class higher than 1, emergency surgery, uncemented fixation, and a National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) risk index of 2 or more. For HAs inserted after fracture, age less than 60 and short duration of surgery were risk factors of revision due to infection. Interpretation: The incidences of SSI and revision due to infection after primary hip replacements in Norway are similar to those in other countries. There may be differences in risk pattern between SSI and revision due to infection after arthroplasty. The risk patterns for revision due to infection appear to be different for HA and THA

Teaching About Health Care Disparities in the Clinical Setting

Clinical teachers often observe interactions that may contribute to health care disparities, yet may hesitate to teach about them. A pedagogical model could help faculty structure teaching about health care disparities in the clinical setting, but to our knowledge, none have been adapted for this purpose. In this paper, we adapt an established model, Time-Effective Strategies for Teaching (TEST), to the teaching of health care disparities. We use several case scenarios to illustrate the core components of the model: diagnose the learner, teach rapidly to the learner’s need, and provide feedback. The TEST model is straightforward, easy to use, and enables the incorporation of teaching about health care disparities into routine clinical teaching

Association of Family Income and Risk of Food Insecurity With Iron Status in Young Children

Importance: Iron deficiency (ID) has the greatest prevalence in early childhood and has been associated with poor developmental outcomes. Previous research examining associations of income and food insecurity (FI) with ID is inconsistent. Objective: To examine the association of family income and family risk of FI with iron status in healthy young children attending primary care. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study included 1245 children aged 12 to 29 months who attended scheduled primary care supervision visits from 2008 to 2018 in Toronto, Canada, and the surrounding area. Exposures: Family income and risk of FI were collected from parent-reported questionnaires. Children whose parents provided an affirmative response to the 1-item FI screen on the Nutrition Screening Tool for Every Toddler or at least 1 item on the 2-item Hunger Vital Sign FI screening tool were categorized as having family risk of FI. Main Outcomes and Measures: Iron deficiency (serum ferritin level <12 ng/mL) and ID anemia (IDA; serum ferritin level <12 ng/mL and hemoglobin level <11.0 g/dL). All models were adjusted for age, sex, birth weight, body mass index z score, C-reactive protein level, maternal education, breastfeeding duration, bottle use, cow’s milk intake, and formula feeding in the first year. Results: Of 1245 children (595 [47.8%] girls; median [interquartile range] age, 18.1 [13.3-24.0] months), 131 (10.5%) were from households with a family income of less than CAD $40 000 ($29 534), 77 (6.2%) were from families at risk of FI, 185 (14.9%) had ID, and 58 (5.3%) had IDA. The odds of children with a family income of less than CAD $40 000 having ID and IDA were 3 times higher than those of children in the highest family income group (ID: odds ratio [OR], 3.08; 95% CI, 1.66-5.72; P < .001; IDA: OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.22-8.87; P = .02). Being in a family at risk of FI, compared with all other children, was not associated with ID or IDA (ID: OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.18-1.02; P = .06; IDA: OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.02-1.23; P = .08). Conclusions and Relevance: In this study, low family income was associated with increased risk of ID and IDA in young children. Risk of FI was not a risk factor for ID or IDA. These findings suggest that targeting income security may be more effective than targeting access to food to reduce health inequities in the prevention of iron deficiency.Funding to support The Applied Research Group for Kids (TARGet Kids!) was provided by multiple sources, including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, namely the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (grant No. FRN 114945 to Dr Maguire; grant No. FRN 115059 to Dr Parkin) and the Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (grant No. FRN 119375 to Dr Birken) as well as the St Michael's Hospital Foundation. The Paediatric Outcomes Research Team is supported by a grant from The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation

Maternal ethnicity and iron status in early childhood in Toronto, Canada: a cross-sectional study

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between maternal ethnicity and iron deficiency (ID) in early childhood, and to evaluate whether infant feeding practices linked to ID differ between maternal ethnic groups. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of healthy children 1–3 years of age. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between maternal ethnicity and ID (serum ferritin 2 cups; meat consumption). Results: Of 1851 children included, 12.2% had ID. Compared with the European referent group, we found higher odds of ID among children of South Asian and West Asian/North African maternal ethnicities, and lower odds of ID among children of East Asian maternal ethnicity. Statistically significant covariates associated with higher odds of ID included longer breastfeeding duration and daily cow’s milk intake >2 cups. Current infant formula use was associated with lower odds of ID. Children of South Asian maternal ethnicity had higher odds of bottle use beyond 15 months of age and lower odds of meat consumption. Conclusions: We found increased odds of ID among children of South Asian and West Asian/Northern African maternal ethnicities. We found a higher odds of feeding practices linked to ID in children of South Asian maternal ethnicity, but not in children of West Asian/North African maternal ethnicity. Culturally tailored approaches to providing guidance to parents on healthy infant feeding practices may be important to prevent ID in early childhood.Funding to support TARGet Kids! was provided by multiple sources including the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), namely the Institute of Human Development, Child and Youth Health (No. FRN 114945 to JLM, No. FRN 115059 to PCP) and the Institute of Nutrition, Metabolism and Diabetes (No. FRN 119375 to CSB]) as well as, the St. Michael's Hospital Foundation. The Paediatric Outcomes Research Team (PORT) is supported by a grant from The Hospital for Sick Children Foundation. VG was supported by a University of Toronto Graduate Fellowship