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Aim: People living with mental illness are more likely than the general population to experience adverse housing outcomes, including homelessness. The aim of the current study is to examine residential status when participants have their first contact with mental health services, and the correlates of residential status at that moment., Methods: First-time mental health service users were recruited from seven clinical sites across Québec. Data on residential status at entry in the project, as well as demographic, clinical and social variables, were collected using self-report and interviewer-rated questionnaires. Participants were classified as 'Homeless', 'At risk of homelessness' and 'Stably Housed', and correlates of residential status were identified through multivariate logistic regression and unbiased recursive partitioning., Results: Among the 478 participants, 206 (43.1%) were in stable housing, 171 (35.8%) were at risk of homelessness and 101 (21.1%) were classified as homeless. Placement in a youth protection facility was strongly associated with adverse housing outcomes, while having a high school diploma and more social support were associated with more stable housing situations., Conclusions: First-time mental health service users are likely to experience a range of adverse housing situations, indicating the potential for clinical sites to implement homelessness primary prevention strategies. Factors related to family, foster care and schooling seem to be particularly salient in understanding risk of homelessness in first-time mental health service users, calling for intersectoral action to prevent adverse psychosocial outcomes in this population., (© 2024 The Authors. Early Intervention in Psychiatry published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Objectives Access to stable, safe, and affordable housing is an important determinant of health and community integration among people living with mental illness. Previous studies on housing stability, housing satisfaction and residential preferences among people living with mental illness have primarily been conducted among those with extensive service use experiences. First-time mental health service users, and youth in particular, are likely to present with distinct housing needs. The current study aimed to explore the housing experiences of new mental health service users, as well as the perceived obstacles and facilitators to their residential stability. Methods Projet AMONT is a longitudinal mixed-methods cohort study on the residential trajectories of service users in the 36 months after their initial contact with psychiatric services. The qualitative component consisted in a qualitative descriptive study. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with fourteen individuals at the beginning of their service use trajectory. Findings The thematic analysis uncovered how the emergence of mental illness and initial contacts with psychiatric services are associated with transformations in the area of housing and, for many, with housing instability. This instability might occur in continuity with adverse early life trajectories, or through the disruption caused by the emergence of mental illness. Informal social support emerged as the main protective factor against housing instability. Housing satisfaction was associated with multiple and sometimes conflicting needs regarding privacy, safety, social interactions, response to basic needs, performance of activities of daily living, and community integration. The specific developmental issues of youth at the beginning of their service use trajectories influence housing stability and satisfaction. Their housing then becomes a reflection of and laboratory for identity exploration and consolidation. Conclusion The findings highlight the importance of adopting a homelessness prevention lens among people living with a first episode of mental illness, particularly youth with adverse early life trajectories. Many existing approaches could be implemented or strengthened: cross-sector partnerships with all actors present in the trajectories of people with emerging mental illness; family approaches in early intervention, peer support, and screening for unstable housing situations. Adapting practices to the specific developmental characteristics of youth seem to be a key for homelessness prevention for this population.

Objectives Based on clinical experience and literature, this article aims to stimulate reflection among the actors involved concerning the organization of services and the interventions to be favored with young people living both a first episode of psychosis and a situation of residential instability or homelessness. The objective of this article is to provide an overview of the literature on the situation of these young people and their needs, the challenges they face in their pathway within the healthcare system and the various interventions to consider with them both to prevent or exit homelessness. Method This literature review presents a narrative synthesis of articles from literature reviews or primary studies published in French or English between 1995 and March 2021, with a focus on the services and intervention practices implemented in Quebec in recent years. Certain interventions can be made at different periods of time in a young person's journey to change their trajectory and prevent homelessness or limit its duration and consequences. Throughout this article, a case study will illustrate these interventions occurring at different times in the life of a young person. Results The risk of residential instability and homelessness in young people living with emerging psychosis is higher than in the general population. This situation can contribute to the onset or worsening of psychosis due to the stress associated with difficult living conditions and the increased possibilities of victimization experiences. This great precariousness can also be the consequence of psychosis and its associated conditions. However, very few studies focus specifically on young people experiencing both a first episode of psychosis and a situation of homelessness or residential instability. The instability associated with homelessness complicates their pathway to mental health care, delays their access to the appropriate services and interferes with their engagement in follow-up. Interventions aimed at preventing homelessness include support in the transition to adulthood and identifying situations of residential instability. Regarding the organization of care, integrated mental health service centers for young people and the development of partnerships, networking and intersectorality make it possible to overcome certain challenges. Intensive outreach interventions models as well as interventions aiming residential stability are favorable to young people who are already experiencing homelessness. Conclusion Residential instability and homelessness imply several challenges faced by young people living with emerging psychosis concerning the access, the continuity and the quality of mental health services. Integrated interventions both to prevent or exit homelessness can be implemented to stem this problem.

Background: Metformin presents better survival rates than other oral antidiabetics in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. However, these benefits may be dampened by inadequate treatment adherence., Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between adherence level to metformin therapy and all-cause mortality over 10 years in incident metformin users., Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted using a large cohort of beneficiaries of the Quebec public drug insurance plan, aged 45 to 85 years, who initiated metformin between 2000 and 2009. Each case of all-cause death during follow-up was matched with up to 10 controls. Adherence to metformin was measured using the medication possession ratio (MPR). Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate rate ratios (RRs) for mortality between adherent (MPR ≥ 80%) and nonadherent patients (MPR < 80%). Subgroup analyses were conducted according to age (45-64 and 65-85 years) and comedication use (antihypertensive/cardiovascular drugs and statins)., Results: The cohort included 82 720 incident metformin users, followed up for 2.4 [0.8-4.4] years (median [interquartile range]) and 4747 cases of all-cause deaths. Analyses revealed decreased mortality risks after long-term adherence to metformin. Specifically, RRs were 0.84 (95% CI = [0.71-0.98]) and 0.69 [0.57-0.85] after 4 to 6 and ≥6 years of adherence to metformin, respectively. Survival benefits of long-term adherence (≥4 years) were also observed across most subgroups and particularly in patients using neither antihypertensive/cardiovascular drugs nor statins (0.57 [0.41-0.77])., Conclusions: Long-term adherence to metformin is associated with decreased risks of all-cause mortality in incident metformin users. Further research should investigate whether survival benefits vary according to the comorbidity burden of patients.

Addressing the concerns of end-of-life patients or their relatives about their family history of cancer could benefit patients and family members. Little is known about how palliative care providers respond to these concerns. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess palliative care providers' knowledge about familial and hereditary cancers and explore their exposure to patients' and relatives' concerns about their family history of cancer, and their self-perceived ability to deal with such concerns. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Quebec City (Canada) catchment area among palliative care professionals. Fifty-eight palliative care professionals working in hospice, home care and hospital-based palliative care units completed the questionnaire. All physicians and 63% of nurses occasionally addressed concerns of patients and relatives about their family history of cancer, but they reported a low confidence level in responding to such concerns. They also showed knowledge gaps in defining features of a significant family history of cancer, and most (78%) would welcome specific training on the matter. Our findings highlight the relevance of offering education and training opportunities about familial cancers and associated risks to palliative care providers. The needs and concerns of end-of-life patients and their families need to be explored to ensure palliative care providers can adequately assist patients and their relatives about their family history of cancer. Ethical implications should be considered.

Objectives: To study the causes of and to develop a risk score for failure of transradial approach (TRA) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)., Background: TRA-PCI failure has been reported in 5% to 10% of cases., Methods: TRA-PCI failure was categorized as primary (clinical reasons) or crossover failure. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine independent predictors of TRA-PCI failure, and an integer risk score was developed., Results: From January to June 2010, TRA-PCI was attempted in 1,609 (97.3%) consecutive patients, whereas 45 (2.7%) had primary TRA-PCI failure. Crossover TRA-PCI failure occurred in 30 (1.8%) patients. Causes of primary TRA-PCI failure included chronic radial artery occlusion (11%), previous coronary artery bypass graft (27%), and cardiogenic shock (20%). Causes for crossover TRA-PCI failure included: inadequate puncture in 17 patients (57%); radial artery spasm in 5 (17%); radial loop in 4 (13%); subclavian tortuosity in 2 (7%); and inadequate guide catheter support in 2 (7%) patients. Female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.95 to 5.26, p < 0.0001), previous coronary artery bypass graft (OR: 6.1; 95% CI: 3.63 to 10.05, p < 0.0001), and cardiogenic shock (OR: 11.2; 95% CI: 2.78 to 41.2, p = 0.0011) were independent predictors of TRA-PCI failure. Risk score values from 0 to 7 predicted a TRA-PCI failure rate from 2% to 80%., Conclusions: In a high-volume radial center, 2.7% of patients undergoing PCI are excluded from initial TRA on clinical grounds, whereas crossover to femoral approach is required in only 1.8% of the cases. A new simple clinical risk score is developed to predict TRA-PCI failure., (Copyright © 2013 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of a concurrent CTO in men and women and to examine its impact on mortality., Background: The impact of chronic total occlusion (CTO) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) according to gender has not been assessed., Methods: Patients referred with STEMI were categorized into single vessel disease (SVD), multivessel disease (MVD) without, with 1 or > 1 CTO. The primary end-point was the 1-year mortality., Results: Among the 2020 STEMI patients included between 2006 and 2011, 24% were female. Women were older, had more hypertension and renal failure (P < 0.0001 for all). The prevalence of 1 or > 1 concurrent CTO was similar in both sexes, 7 and 1%, respectively. Early and late mortality was significantly higher in women compared with men (P < 0.0001). In women, the mortality was significantly worse in patients with > 1 CTO (100%) and with 1 CTO (36.4%) compared with those with MVD without CTO (18.4%) or with SVD (10.4%) (P < 0.0001). MVD with and without concurrent CTO were both independent predictors of 1-year mortality in women (HR 3.58; 95 % CI 1.69-7.18 and HR 2.76; 95 % CI 1.33-5.51) whereas only MVD with CTO was predictive in men (HR 2.19; 95% CI 1.20-3.97)., Conclusions: Among unselected STEMI patients, the prevalence of CTO was equal in both sexes whereas early and late mortality remained significantly higher in women. Other factors than the presence of a concurrent CTO must be explored to explain differences in survival after STEMI between women and men., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objectives: To investigate the predictors and impact on long-term survival of one chronic total occlusion (CTO) or multiple CTOs in patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)., Design: Single-centre retrospective observational study., Setting: University-based tertiary referral centre., Patients: Between 2006 and 2011, a total of 2020 consecutive patients referred with STEMI were categorised into single vessel disease, multivessel disease (MVD) without CTO, with one CTO or with multiple CTOs., Intervention: Primary percutaneous coronary intervention., Main Outcome Measure: The primary end-point was the 1-year mortality., Results: The prevalence of single vessel disease, MVD without CTO, with one CTO or with multiple CTOs was 70%, 22%, 7.2% and 0.8%, respectively. Independent clinical predictors for the presence of CTO were cardiogenic shock (OR 5.05; 95% CI 3.29 to 7.64), prior myocardial infarction (OR 2.06; 95% CI 1.35 to 3.09), age >65 years (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.40 to 2.71) and history of angina (OR 1.94; 95% CI 1.29 to 2.87). Mortality was worse in patients with multiple CTOs (76.5%) compared with those with one CTO (28.1%) or without CTO (7.3%) (p<0.0001). After adjustment for left ventricular ejection fraction and renal function, MVD was an independent predictor for 1-year mortality (HR: 1.81; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.77, p=0.007), but CTO was not (HR: 1.07; 95% CI 0.66 to 1.73, p=0.78)., Conclusions: Simple clinical factors are associated with the presence of CTO in non-infarct-related artery in patients presenting with STEMI. In these patients, long-term survival was independently associated with MVD, left ventricular ejection fraction and renal function, but not with CTO per se.

Background: The use of routine aspiration thrombectomy in primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains controversial., Methods: Patients in the EArly Discharge after Transradial Stenting of CoronarY Arteries in Acute Myocardial Infarction (n = 105) study were treated with aspirin, clopidogrel, and abciximab within 6 hr of symptoms onset. Operators were allowed to use 6 Fr Export aspiration catheter at their discretion. In this observational analysis, we compared acute and late results in patients treated with and without thrombectomy using cardiac biomarkers, angiographic, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and clinical parameters., Results: Patients in the thrombectomy group (n = 44) had longer symptoms to balloon time (196 ± 86 min vs. 164 ± 62, P = 0.039) and higher incidence of preprocedural TIMI flow grade 0 or 1 (84% vs. 64%, P = 0.028). Following PCI, both groups had similar incidence of TIMI flow grade 3 (93 vs. 92%, P = 0.73) and myocardial blush grade 2 or 3 (80 vs. 77%, P = 0.86), respectively. Patients in thrombectomy group had significantly higher post-PCI maximum values of creatine kinase-MB (P = 0.0007) and troponin T (P = 0.0010). Accordingly, post-PCI myocardial necrosis by CMR was higher (P = 0.0030) in patients in the thrombectomy group. At 6-month follow-up, necrosis size remained higher (20.7% ± 13.3% vs. 13.5% ± 11.1%, P = 0.012) in the thrombectomy group. Ejection fraction at 6 months was 65% ± 9% in patients in thrombectomy group compared to 70% ± 11% in patients without (P = 0.070). Results were not affected by initial TIMI flow or symptoms to balloon time. Clinical events remained comparable in both groups at 12 months follow-up., Conclusion: In patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction presenting within 6 hr of symptoms and undergoing primary angioplasty with maximal antiplatelet therapy, acute and late results did not suggest significant benefit for additional aspiration thrombectomy, irrespective of initial TIMI flow or total ischemic time., (Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: Late-presenting ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients possess larger, more organized coronary thrombus leading to greater ventricular remodeling and arrhythmia despite angioplasty and pharmacological therapies. We hypothesized that myocardial injury would be reduced in late STEMI by proximal embolic protection (PEP)., Methods: 31 patients with first STEMI 12-24 hr after pain onset and TIMI 0-1 flow were treated with or without PEP (cohort design matched for age, gender, and infarct-related artery). Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance determined myocardial function, area at risk, necrosis, salvaged myocardium, and arrythmogenic peri-infarct region. Clinical follow-up was performed., Results: Pain to balloon time was 18 hr (95% CI 15.5-21.2 h), and Q waves were present in 87%. Angioplasty was performed with PEP in 15 and without in 16. Left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction were similar (EF 46.9% vs. 49.0% without PEP, P = 0.9). Although myocardial necrosis was similar (32.5 vs. 37.3% of LV, P = 0.3), PEP improved microvascular obstruction (8.7 vs. 11.2% of LV, P = 0.02) salvaged myocardium (39.6% vs. 29.6% of area at risk, P = 0.001), and the peri-infarct region (20.9 vs. 29.6% of infarct, P < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, the use of PEP was an independent predictor of decreased arrythmogenic peri-infarct region and greater myocardial salvage., Conclusion: In this pilot study, PEP improved myocardial salvage and the arrythmogenic peri-infarct region in late-presentation STEMI. Randomized trials are required to assess the clinical impact of improving salvaged myocardium and the peri-infarct region with PEP., (© 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

What Is Already Known About This Subject: * Non-adherence is probably an important source of preventable cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. * However, until now there have been very few large effectiveness studies assessing the relationship between adherence levels to antihypertensive medication and major cardiovascular outcomes for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease., What This Study Adds: * The study results suggest that there is an association between better adherence to antihypertensive agents and a relative risk reduction of coronary artery disease. * Adherence to antihypertensive agents needs to be improved so that patients can benefit from the full protective effects of antihypertensive therapies., Aims: Antihypertensive (AH) agents have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events, including coronary artery disease (CAD). Previous surveys have shown that a substantial number of patients with diagnosed hypertension remain uncontrolled. Non-adherence to AH agents may reduce the effectiveness. The aim was to evaluate the impact of better adherence to AH agents on the occurrence of CAD in a real clinical setting., Methods: A cohort of 83 267 patients was reconstructed using the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec databases. Patients were eligible if they were between 45 and 85 years of age without indication of cardiovascular disease, and had been newly treated with AH agents between 1999 and 2004. A nested case-control design was used to study the incidence of CAD. Every case of CAD was matched for age and duration of follow-up to up to 15 randomly selected controls. The adherence level was measured by calculating the medication possession ratio. Cases' adherence was calculated from the start of follow-up to the time of the CAD (index date). For controls, adherence was calculated from the start of follow-up to the time of selection (index date). Rate ratios of CAD were estimated by conditional logistic regression adjusting for covariables., Results: The mean patient age was 65 years, 37% were male, 8% had diabetes and 18% had dyslipidaemia. High adherence level (96%) to AH therapy compared with lower adherence level (59%) was associated with a relative risk reduction of CAD events (rate ratios 0.90; 0.84, 0.95). Risk factors for CAD were male gender, diabetes, dyslipidaemia and developing a cardiovascular condition disease during follow-up., Conclusion: Our study suggests that better adherence to AH agents is associated with a risk reduction of CAD. Adherence to AH agents needs to be improved so that patients can benefit from the full protective effects of AH therapies.

Objective: The induction of sedation at the end of life is a much debated practice and not very documented. The goal of this study was to explore the practice from both a clinical and ethical point of view., Methods: Data were collected through semistructured interviews with 19 Quebec physicians working in palliative care., Results: Doctors' first priority was their patients, not patients' families. Clinically, the therapeutic aim of sedation was strictly to relieve suffering on the part of the patient. Ethically, getting the patient's consent was imperative. The family's consent was only required in cases of incapacity. Generally, sedation and euthanasia were seen as two distinct practices., Significance of the Research: There are still very few guidelines regarding end-of-life sedation in Québec, and its normative framework is more implicit than explicit. It should be noted that most of the respondents regarded sedation and euthanasia as two distinct practices.

Background: Female gender has been associated with poorer outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and femoral approach. However, no data are available on the impact of gender and transradial PCI with maximal antiplatelet therapy on bleeding and ischemic outcomes., Methods: In the EArly discharge after Stenting of coronarY arteries (EASY) trial, 1,348 patients with acute coronary syndrome underwent transradial PCI. All patients were pretreated with aspirin and clopidogrel. After sheath insertion, 70 U/kg heparin was administered and a bolus of abciximab was given before first balloon inflation. Major adverse cardiac events including death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization; major bleeding; and local hematomas were evaluated at 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months., Results: Women (n = 298, 22%) were older, had more hypertension, more family history, and less previous PCI than men. Weight, baseline hemoglobin, and creatinine clearance were significantly lower in women. The number of dilated sites, complex lesions, and procedure duration was similar, but 5F sheath size was more frequent in women. Major adverse cardiac events remained similar at 30 days (3.4% vs 3.9%, P = .86), at 6 months (11.5% vs 7.8%, P = .06), and at 1 year (14.1% vs 12.6%) in both groups. There was no significant difference in the incidence of major bleeding between the 2 groups, but female gender was the only independent predictor of hematomas (odds ratio 4.40, 95% confidence interval 2.49-7.81, P < .0001)., Conclusion: Despite more comorbidities, female gender was not a predictor of adverse clinical outcomes after transradial PCI with maximal antiplatelet therapy. Still, female gender remained associated with a higher risk of local hematomas. Efforts should continue to identify modifiable factors to reduce procedural bleeding in women, regardless of the access site.

Home adaptation is essential in increasing independence of children with disabilities and reducing the burden of care for parents. Physical and occupational therapists involved in home adaptations are faced with various challenges in meeting the needs and expectations of parents. This study aimed at exploring the experience of parents throughout the home adaptation process. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study, whereby we interviewed a sample of 11 parents of children with motor disabilities, using focus groups and individual interviews. Dominant themes that emerged were financial and organizational constraints, child's independence/self-esteem, respect of temporal aspects, safety, respect for parent's roles, need for information, and appearance of the home. Parents wish physical and occupational therapists to take on roles that extend beyond provision of home adaptation, such as those of consultants and advocates.

Background: Current guidelines for ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) recommend performing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) within 90 min of hospital arrival. However, recent data suggest that in a real-world setting, median door-to-balloon (DTB) time is closer to 180 min for transfer patients, with less than 5% of patients being treated within 90 min. A retrospective observational study was conducted to assess time to treatment in patients undergoing primary PCI at the Quebec Heart and Lung Institute (QHLI)., Methods: Consecutive lytic-eligible patients undergoing primary PCI at the QHLI for STEMI between April 2004 and March 2005 were included in the present analysis. The primary evaluation was DTB time measured from arrival at the first hospital to first balloon inflation. Clinical outcomes were in-hospital death, reinfarction and bleeding. DTB times and hospital outcomes of patients transferred from referring hospitals were compared with those of patients presenting directly to the QHLI., Results: During the study period, 203 lytic-eligible patients were treated with primary PCI. Sixty-nine patients presented directly to the QHLI and 134 were transferred from other hospitals. Six transfer patients were excluded because of missing time variables. The median DTB time was 114 min in transfer patients, compared with 87 min in patients presenting directly to the QHLI (P<0.001). DTB time was less than 90 min in 24% of the transfer population compared with 55% of patients presenting directly to the QHLI (P<0.001). In patients referred from hospitals within a radius of 30 km from the QHLI (n=100), median DTB time was 106 min with 30% receiving PCI within 90 min. In these patients, estimated PCI-related delay was 74 min. For patients presenting to hospitals beyond 30 km (n=28), median DTB time was 142 min with 4% receiving reperfusion within 90 min. In these patients, estimated PCI-related delay was 110 min. Median DTB time for patients presenting during off hours at the QHLI was 92 min compared with 79 min for patients presenting during regular business hours (P=0.02). In patients transferred from other hospitals, median DTB time was 118 min during off hours and 108 min during normal business hours (P=0.07)., Conclusions: A DTB time of less than 90 min can be achieved in the majority of patients presenting directly to a primary PCI centre. However, for patients presenting to community hospitals, transfer for primary PCI is often associated with delayed revascularization. The present study highlights the need for careful patient selection when deciding between on-site thrombolytic therapy and transfer for primary PCI for STEMI patients presenting to hospitals without PCI facilities.