CONCLUSION: The prevalence of chronic pain in our sample was high. The positive association between high frequency of alcohol use and chronic pain could be explained by alterations of pain pathways by heavy use and withdrawal episodes, potentially increasing hyperalgesia. This study underscores the importance of addressing alcohol use along with other substances among PWID.
Neonatal late-onset sepsis is associated with increased mortality and morbidity, adversely impacting long-term outcome. The objective of this study was to examine neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes at 18 to 24 months' corrected age (CA) in infants with late-onset bacterial sepsis (LOS) and to categorize outcomes based on type of bacterial pathogen in a cohort of preterm infants born less than 29 weeks gestation in Canada.We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all non-anomalous infants born...
Transgender and gender diverse (trans) people experience unique minority stressors related to their gender identity, along with additional psychosocial and systemic stressors that contribute to health disparities. Many risk factors for chronic liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, alcohol use disorder, and metabolic dysfunction, disproportionately affect trans people. There have also been historical concerns about the hepatic effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) that are...
BACKGROUND: Bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are common among people in prison, a population identified by WHO as a key group to addressing the burden of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections worldwide. To inform elimination efforts, we aimed to estimate the global prevalence of bacterial STIs (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and syphilis) in prisons and other closed settings.
CONCLUSIONS: Our multidisciplinary model of care increased the proportion of HCV RNA+ people released from prison who subsequently achieved SVR, at an additional cost of C$25,653 per additional patient. This is only C$5,653 more than the estimated cost of direct-acting antivirals, providing an economic rationale for broader implementation.
BACKGROUND: As the result of systemic and structural barriers, hepatitis C virus (HCV) continues to disproportionately affect people who inject drugs, those in prison, Indigenous peoples, immigrants from HCV-endemic countries, and gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in Canada. Point-of-care antibody and RNA testing improve access to HCV testing and enable single-visit diagnosis and treatment initiation, yet robust, context-specific strategies are needed to scale these technologies...
CONCLUSIONS: This international Delphi study highlights histological and NIT-based measures as key for MASH treatment evaluation. It also supports a shift toward NITs-particularly LSM by VCTE or MRE-for disease monitoring in routine practice, with implications for trial design, reimbursement, and clinical guidelines.
INTRODUCTION: People who inject drugs may experience several non-viral injecting-related injuries and diseases (IRID), including skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) and venous disease, often resulting from bacteria introduced via unsafe injecting practices or environments. Women are overrepresented among those reporting multiple and recent IRID. However, limited evidence exists about how gender interacts with known IRID risk factors.
BACKGROUND: New HIV infections occur annually in Canada, highlighting the need for pre- and postexposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP). Through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Pan-Canadian Network for HIV/AIDS and STBBI (sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections) Clinical Trials Research, we have updated the 2017 guideline on clinical indications and drug regimens for PrEP and PEP in Canada.
CONTEXTE: Chaque année, au Canada, on dénombre de nouvelles infections par le virus de l’immunodéficience humaine (VIH), ce qui met en relief le besoin d’une prophylaxie préexposition (PPrE) et d’une prophylaxie postexposition (PPE). Avec l’aide du Réseau pancanadien de recherche sur les essais cliniques du VIH et des infections transmissibles sexuellement et par le sang (ITSS) des Instituts de recherche en santé du Canada (IRSC), nous avons mis à jour le guide de pratique clinique de 2017 sur...
BACKGROUND: Virtual MR elastography (VMRE) and MRE have been proposed for liver fibrosis staging in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but VMRE's diagnostic performance remains debated.
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BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is associated with congenital infections that can lead to severe developmental and neurological complications in affected children. Daycare workers, who frequently interact with infants and young children, may be at higher risk of CMV infection. This study aims to investigate the rates of primary infection and reinfection of CMV among female daycare workers in the province of Québec, Canada to better understand the risk of occupational exposure in this...
CONCLUSION: Safe(r) supply encompasses prescribed opioid alternatives interventions (safer supply) and non-medicalized (safe supply) approaches with shared antecedents but distinct attributes and consequences. This study highlights the need to better define and standardize the parameters of safer supply approaches, including population, dosing, and intended objectives, to enable a more precise assessment of their potential benefits and risks. This nuanced understanding is crucial for developing...
Quantifying cough can offer value for respiratory disease assessment and monitoring. Traditionally, patient-reported outcomes have provided subjective insights into symptoms. Novel digital cough counting tools now enable objective assessments; however, their integration into clinical practice is limited. The aim of this scoping review was to address this gap in the literature by examining the use of automated and semiautomated cough counting tools in patient care and public health. A systematic...
Steatotic liver disease (SLD), formerly known as fatty liver disease, is the most common chronic liver condition, affecting one in three people in the Americas, including Canada. Characterized by excess fat in the liver, SLD can progress from a benign state to advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis and is strongly linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, extra-hepatic cancers, and premature mortality. Despite its rising prevalence, SLD remains largely absent from Canada's public health...
Background/Objectives: Retail workers may have been at an increased risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand this group, we set up a longitudinal cohort to document the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, vaccination uptake and to study immune response. Methods: Participants were enrolled between 20 April and 22 October 2021 and attended up to 5 visits over 48 weeks. Information collected was: participant characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 detection tests...
CONCLUSION: MRI cine-tagging provided a similar diagnostic performance compared to MRE for staging liver fibrosis, except for the diagnosis of cirrhosis (F4). It is possible to assess liver strain as part of abdominal MRI screening, offering additional insight into the left lobe without the need for additional equipment.
CONCLUSIONS: In a short period, an open-access data challenge facilitated the development of new cough-based tuberculosis algorithms and demonstrated potential as a tuberculosis screening tool.
CONCLUSIONS: Canada's overdose epidemic reflects a segmented trajectory, with marked accelerations in 1996 and 2013, driven by healthcare practices, evolving drug markets, and social vulnerabilities. Regional and demographic disparities underscore the need for targeted, historically informed public health strategies.