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Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have a significant increased risk of embolic stroke. Patients with end-stage renal disease who are on dialysis have an increased risk of both embolic stroke and bleeding. Stroke-prevention studies with the use of anticoagulation for AF patients have excluded patients on dialysis, so there remains no consensus on their management. We developed and implemented a pan-Canadian multidisciplinary survey to explore the current beliefs and practices concerning patients with AF on dialysis. We developed an online investigator-designed survey with both quantitative and qualitative responses with the use of a secure university-affiliated electronic service. The survey was distributed to physicians via the QxMD platform and directly to internal medicine, cardiology, and nephrology residency program directors for distribution to faculty members. 130 participants responded, including 46 cardiologists, 45 nephrologists, 30 general internists, and 9 other physicians. The preferred anticoagulant was warfarin. The CHADS 2 score used to initiate anticoagulation was highly variable, with specialties differing in use of a CHADS 2 threshold of ≥ 1 (P < 0.001) and the impact of previous transient ischemic attack/stroke (P = 0.02). Calciphylaxis history affected the decision to prescribe anticoagulation. Specialties differed in thresholds used to consider direct oral anticoagulants for dialysis patients, with nephrologists more likely to prescribe anticoagulation at higher CHADS 2 scores. Our survey demonstrated significant heterogeneity of anticoagulation use for stroke prevention in patients with AF on dialysis. Physician specialty and patient risk profiles contributed to the observed variability. This study reemphasises the need for clinical trials, large observational studies, and consensus guidelines to address evident equipoise., (Copyright © 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

To effectively implement the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) guidelines for dyslipidemia management into clinical laboratories, clear recommendations for lipid reporting are essential. In this study, the Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists Working Group on Reference Interval Harmonisation surveyed Canadian laboratories on adult lipid reporting practices to set a foundation for the development and implementation of harmonised lipid reporting across Canada. Key aspects of the survey asked laboratories: what reporting parameters were in place to assess lipid results; what interpretative comments were provided; whether nonfasting lipids were permitted and, if so, what strategy was used to document fasting status; and whether there was interest in implementing a harmonised lipid report. A total of 101 laboratories were represented by 24 respondents, as many responses were submitted by laboratory networks that included more than 1 laboratory. There was at least 1 response from 9 Canadian provinces and representation across 5 testing platforms. Upper and lower limits for lipid parameters and referenced source of limits varied substantially across laboratories, with only 56% of laboratories (9 respondents) referencing the 2016 CCS guidelines. Eighty-six percent of laboratories (19 respondents) report nonfasting lipids, although the method of documenting nonfasting status varied. Overall, 36% of laboratories (8 respondents) reported interest in implementing a harmonised lipid report. Assessment of current lipid-reporting practices supports the need for harmonised lipid reporting across Canada. Development of a harmonised lipid report for the adult population, consistent with up-to-date Canadian guidelines, will improve continuity of lipid test interpretation across Canada and improve clinical decision making., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) atrial fibrillation (AF) guidelines program was developed to aid clinicians in the management of these complex patients, as well as to provide direction to policy makers and health care systems regarding related issues. The most recent comprehensive CCS AF guidelines update was published in 2010. Since then, periodic updates were published dealing with rapidly changing areas. However, since 2010 a large number of developments had accumulated in a wide range of areas, motivating the committee to complete a thorough guideline review. The 2020 iteration of the CCS AF guidelines represents a comprehensive renewal that integrates, updates, and replaces the past decade of guidelines, recommendations, and practical tips. It is intended to be used by practicing clinicians across all disciplines who care for patients with AF. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) system was used to evaluate recommendation strength and the quality of evidence. Areas of focus include: AF classification and definitions, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical evaluation, screening and opportunistic AF detection, detection and management of modifiable risk factors, integrated approach to AF management, stroke prevention, arrhythmia management, sex differences, and AF in special populations. Extensive use is made of tables and figures to synthesize important material and present key concepts. This document should be an important aid for knowledge translation and a tool to help improve clinical management of this important and challenging arrhythmia., (Copyright © 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent state of public emergency have significantly affected older adults in Canada and worldwide. It is imperative that the gerontological response be efficient and effective. In this statement, the board members of the Canadian Association on Gerontology/L'Association canadienne de gérontologie (CAG/ACG) and the Canadian Journal on Aging/La revue canadienne du vieillissement (CJA/RCV) acknowledge the contributions of CAG/ACG members and CJA/RCV readers. We also profile the complex ways that COVID-19 is affecting older adults, from individual to population levels, and advocate for the adoption of multidisciplinary collaborative teams to bring together different perspectives, areas of expertise, and methods of evaluation in the COVID-19 response.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised ethical questions for the cardiovascular leader and practitioner. Attention has been redirected from a system that focuses on individual patient benefit toward one that focuses on protecting society as a whole. Challenging resource allocation questions highlight the need for a clearly articulated ethics framework that integrates principled decision making into how different cardiovascular care services are prioritized. A practical application of the principles of harm minimisation, fairness, proportionality, respect, reciprocity, flexibility, and procedural justice is provided, and a model for prioritisation of the restoration of cardiovascular services is outlined. The prioritisation model may be used to determine how and when cardiovascular services should be continued or restored. There should be a focus on an iterative and responsive approach to broader health care system needs, such as other disease groups and local outbreaks., (Copyright © 2020 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale, Aims, and Objectives: Focusing on the implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the management of adult cancers, the objectives of this study were to (a) describe the intrinsic elements known to influence CPG use; (b) identify the ways in which CPGs are implemented; and (c) explore how CPG characteristics and contextual factors influence implementation and use., Methods: We conducted a sequential mixed methods study. First, we performed a content analysis of all CPGs developed and approved for the management of adult cancers in Nova Scotia, Canada, from 2005 to 2015. CPGs were examined for the presence of 22 elements known to influence CPG use. Next, we conducted semistructured interviews with CPG developers and end users. Participants were purposively sampled, based on the findings of the content analysis. All interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed by two researchers using the Framework Method., Results: CPGs (n = 20) demonstrated large variation with respect to elements shown to influence CPG use. For example, 85% included content related to individualization and objectives. Yet no CPGs (0%) had journal or patient versions; discussed the education, training, or competencies needed to deliver recommendations; contained an explicit statement on anticipated work changes, or on potential direct or productivity costs; or identified barriers or facilitators that might influence CPG adoption. Interview data from CPG developers (n = 4) and users (n = 6) revealed five themes related to CPG implementation and use: (a) lack of consistency in CPG development; (b) timing and nature of stakeholder engagement; (c) credibility of the CPG development process and final CPGs; (d) limited understanding of implementation as an active process; and (e) factors at organizational and system levels influence CPG implementation and use., Conclusions: This mixed methods study provides complementary data that may help inform more effective CPG implementation efforts and optimize their use in practice., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Background: Low-risk syncope accounts for a large proportion of hospital admissions; however, inpatient investigations are often not necessary and are rarely diagnostic. Reducing the number of low-risk syncope admissions can likely lower health care resource consumption and overall expenditure. Application of syncope guidelines by physicians in the emergency department provides a standardized approach that may potentially reduce admissions and lead to health care resource utilization savings., Methods: A retrospective chart review of 1229 syncope presentations was conducted at 2 major academic centres spanning 1 year. Three major society guidelines and position statements were applied to determine the effect on admission rates., Results: A total of 1031 true syncope charts were included in the analysis; 407 (39%) were admitted and 624 (61%) were discharged by the treating physician (MD). There was a significant difference in the mean [standard deviation] age (75 [14] vs 55 [22]) and baseline cardiovascular disease, including congestive heart failure 51/407 (13%) vs 28/624 (5%), coronary artery disease 125/407 (31%) vs 91/624 (15%), and structural heart disease 36/407 (9%) vs 26/624 (4%), between admitted and not admitted patients, respectively (P < 0.01). All guidelines warranted more low-risk admissions when compared with 19% by the MD: Canadian Cardiovascular Society 34% (P < 0.01), American College of Emergency Physicians 22% (P = 0.03), and European Society of Cardiology 26% (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: In conclusion, application of the current syncope guidelines to an emergency department population is unlikely to reduce low-risk hospital admissions., (Copyright © 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In this report we examine the differences between the 2017 Hypertension Canada and 2017 American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) blood pressure (BP) guidelines regarding the proportions of individuals with a diagnosis of hypertension, BP above thresholds for treatment initiation, and BP below targets using the CARTaGENE cohort. Compared with the 2017 Canadian guidelines, the 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines would result in increases of 8.7% in hypertension diagnosis and 3.4% of individuals needing treatment, with 17.2% having a different BP target. In conclusion, implementing the 2017 ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines in Canada could result in major effects for millions of Canadians., (Copyright © 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The objective was to improve the management of patients with hypertension (HTN) and coronary artery disease (CAD), utilizing a model which integrates 3 determinants of coronary blood flow (CBF)-CAD severity, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and left ventricular (LV) mass. We validated non-parametric equations for CBF estimation in a consecutive patient sample (N = 81) with HTN and CAD. There was a highly significant correlation (r = .565; P < .01) between clinical DBP and estimated CBF. Greater LV mass and more severe CAD shifted the relationship towards less CBF at the same DBP. LV mass was more critical when DBP >70 mm Hg. Estimated changes in CBF at different DBP considering the severity of CAD and LV mass can be calculated. In summary, the severity of CAD from coronary CT or coronary angiography combined with LV mass from echocardiography permits clinicians to guide the extent of, or target for, DBP to avoid seriously compromising CBF., (©2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: For people requiring hemodialysis, infectious mortality is independently associated with geographic distance from a nephrologist. We aimed to determine if differential management of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSIs) could explain poorer outcomes., Methods: We prospectively collected data from adults initiating hemodialysis with a central venous catheter between 2005 and 2015 in Alberta, Canada. We collected indicators of CRBSI management (timely catheter removal, relapsing bacteremia); frequency of CRBSIs; hospitalizations; predictors of CRBSIs, and bacteremia. We evaluated indicators and infectious episodes as a function of the shortest distance by road to the closest nephrologist's practice: <50 (referent); 50-99; and ≥100 km., Results: One thousand one hundred thirty-one participants were followed for a median of 755 days (interquartile range (IQR) 219, 1465) and used dialysis catheters for a median of 565 days (IQR 176, 1288). Compared to the referent group, there was no significant difference in the rate ratio (RR) of CRBSI in the 50-100 and >100 km distance categories: RR 1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.91, 2.91); RR 0.84 (95% CI 0.44, 1.58); p = 0.87, respectively or in bacteremia: RR 1.42; (95% CI 0.83, 2.45); RR 0.79 (95% CI 0.45,1.39) p = 0.74, respectively. There were no differences in indicators of appropriate CRBSI management or hospitalizations according to distance. The overall incidence of CRBSIs was low (0.19 per 1000 catheter days) as was the frequency of relapse. Only liver disease was independently associated with CRBSI (RR 2.11; 95% CI 1.15, 3.86)., Conclusions: The frequency and management of CRBSIs did not differ by location; however, event rates were low.

Purpose of the Study: To (a) describe A Scheduled Shifts Staffing measure (ASSiST) to derive care aide worked hours per resident day (HCA WHRD) at facility and unit levels in nursing homes, (b) report reliability through comparisons to administrative staffing data; (c) report validity by examining associations between HCA WHRD, staff outcomes (job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion), and resident quality indicators (QIs) (e.g. falls, delirium, stage 2+ pressure ulcers), and (d) explore intrafacility variation in staffing intensity levels related to unit-level variation in resident and staff outcomes., Design and Methods: We used data from 40 care units in 12 Canadian nursing homes between 2007 and 2012. Descriptive statistics and tests of association and difference described relationships of two measures of staffing with resident and staff outcomes., Results: Annualized rates of HCA WHRD from both data sources compared well at the facility level (Pearson Product Correlation; R = 0.847, p < .001), and were correlated similarly to staff work life and many QIs. Using ASSiST data, we show that staffing levels can vary by up to 40% at the unit-level within nursing homes., Implications: ASSiST is easy to collect, more timely to retrieve than administrative data, has good criterion and construct validity, and reflects intrafacility variation in health care aide staffing levels., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In 2010, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society embarked on an initiative to develop pan-Canadian quality indicators (QIs) and standardized data definitions with the ultimate goal of monitoring, comparing, and contrasting national cardiovascular care and its outcomes. One of the first working groups to be established was tasked with identifying and then defining a set of QIs for atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF/AFL). The Canadian Cardiovascular Society "Best Practices for Developing Cardiovascular Quality Indicators" methodology was used to develop an initial catalogue of 25 QIs intended to measure critical issues around access, process, and outcomes relating to AF/AFL management. This list was subsequently pared down to 5 QIs felt to have the greatest relative importance for quality assurance and measurability so as to facilitate early adoption. Three of these QIs were finally selected to assess the feasibility of their measurement using existing administrative datasets. These were the number of patients with a diagnosis of nonvalvular AF/AFL at high risk of stroke (75 years or older, or CHADS 2 ≥ 2) receiving an oral anticoagulant, and the rates of stroke and major haemorrhage in patients with nonvalvular AF/AFL according to CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score and anticoagulant use. Despite their clear importance in assessing AF/AFL care, none of these 3 QIs were found to be readily measurable across Canada using existing national datasets. Investment in new medical data infrastructure is required to facilitate regular monitoring of QIs to improve cardiovascular care., (Copyright © 2016 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an evidence-based intervention that has been shown to reduce both morbidity and mortality. However, CR is widely underused due to multiple factors, including physician referral practices., Objectives: To describe physicians' preferences in managing cardiac patients and the barriers they face in referring patients to CR., Methods: A cross-sectional survey of a stratified random sample of 510 primary care physicians, cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons in Ontario was conducted. One hundred seventy-nine physicians responded (40% response rate through repeat mailings) to the survey that investigated medical, demographic and attitudinal factors affecting referral. A hypothetical case scenario that elicited open-ended factors affecting physician management preferences was incorporated., Results: Physicians identified geographic access, uncertainty regarding which provider was responsible for referral and perceptions of patient motivation as important factors affecting referral to CR. Through principal components analysis, several attitudes affecting referral emerged, including beliefs about the efficacy of CR, referral norms, ease of the referral process and desire to manage the patient independently. A hierarchical logistic regression analysis showed that 75% of the variance in referral was attributable to medical specialty, availability of CR and practice norms., Conclusions: Increased communication among health care providers is needed to ensure CR referral. Due to geographic dispersion, alternatives to site-based CR are necessary to meet the needs of cardiac patients.