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Abstract Background The fragility index is a statistical measure of the robustness or “stability” of a statistically significant result. It has been adapted to assess the robustness of statistically significant outcomes from randomized controlled trials. By hypothetically switching some non-responders to responders, for instance, this metric measures how many individuals would need to have responded for a statistically significant finding to become non-statistically significant. The purpose of this study is to assess the fragility index of randomized controlled trials evaluating opioid substitution and antagonist therapies for opioid use disorder. This will provide an indication as to the robustness of trials in the field and the confidence that should be placed in the trials’ outcomes, potentially identifying ways to improve clinical research in the field. This is especially important as opioid use disorder has become a global epidemic, and the incidence of opioid related fatalities have climbed 500% in the past two decades. Methods Six databases were searched from inception to September 25, 2021, for randomized controlled trials evaluating opioid substitution and antagonist therapies for opioid use disorder, and meeting the necessary requirements for fragility index calculation. Specifically, we included all parallel arm or two-by-two factorial design RCTs that assessed the effectiveness of any opioid substitution and antagonist therapies using a binary primary outcome and reported a statistically significant result. The fragility index of each study was calculated using methods described by Walsh and colleagues. The risk of bias of included studies was assessed using the Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for randomized trials. Results Ten studies with a median sample size of 82.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 58, 179, range 52–226) were eligible for inclusion. Overall risk of bias was deemed to be low in seven studies, have some concerns in two studies, and be high in one study. The median fragility index was 7.5 (IQR 4, 12, range 1–26). Conclusions Our results suggest that approximately eight participants are needed to overturn the conclusions of the majority of trials in opioid use disorder. Future work should focus on maximizing transparency in reporting of study results, by reporting confidence intervals, fragility indexes, and emphasizing the clinical relevance of findings. Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42013006507. Registered on November 25, 2013.

IntroductionThe Emergency Department Avoidability Classification (EDAC) retrospectively classifies emergency department (ED) visits that could have been safely managed in subacute primary care settings, but has not been validated against a criterion standard. A validated EDAC could enable accurate and reliable quantification of avoidable ED visits. We compared agreement between the EDAC and ED physician judgements to specify avoidable ED visits.Materials and methodsWe conducted a cluster randomized, single-blinded agreement study in an academic hospital in Hamilton, Canada. ED visits between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2019 were clustered based on EDAC classes and randomly sampled evenly. A total of 160 ED visit charts were randomly assigned to ten participating ED physicians at the academic hospital for evaluation. Physicians judged if the ED visit could have been managed appropriately in subacute primary care (an avoidable visit); each ED visit was evaluated by two physicians independently. We measured interrater agreement between physicians with a Cohen's kappa and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We evaluated the correlation between the EDAC and physician judgements using a Spearman rank correlation and ordinal logistic regression with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs. We examined the EDAC's precision to identify avoidable ED visits using accuracy, sensitivity and specificity.ResultsED physicians agreed on 139 visits (86.9%) with a kappa of 0.69 (95% CI 0.59-0.79), indicating substantial agreement. Physicians judged 96.2% of ED visits classified as avoidable by the EDAC as suitable for management in subacute primary care. We found a high correlation between the EDAC and physician judgements (0.64), as well as a very strong association to classify avoidable ED visits (OR 80.0, 95% CI 17.1-374.9). The EDACs avoidable and potentially avoidable classes demonstrated strong accuracy to identify ED visits suitable for management in subacute care (82.8%, 95% CI 78.2-86.8).DiscussionThe EDAC demonstrated strong evidence of criterion validity to classify avoidable ED visits. This classification has important potential for accurately monitoring trends in avoidable ED utilization, measuring proportions of ED volume attributed to avoidable visits and informing interventions intended at reducing ED use by patients who do not require emergency or life-saving healthcare.

Background For patients with atrial fibrillation seen in the emergency department (ED) following a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke, the impact of initiating oral anticoagulation immediately rather than deferring the decision to outpatient follow‐up is unknown. Methods and Results We conducted a planned secondary data analysis of a prospective cohort of 11 507 adults in 13 Canadian EDs between 2006 and 2018. Patients were eligible if they were aged 18 years or older, with a final diagnosis of TIA or minor stroke with previously documented or newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation. The primary outcome was subsequent stroke, recurrent TIA, or all‐cause mortality within 90 days of the index TIA diagnosis. Secondary outcomes included stroke, recurrent TIA, or death and rates of major bleeding. Of 11 507 subjects with TIA/minor stroke, atrial fibrillation was identified in 11.2% (1286, mean age, 77.3 [SD 11.1] years, 52.4% male). Over half (699; 54.4%) were already taking anticoagulation, 89 (6.9%) were newly prescribed anticoagulation in the ED. By 90 days, 4.0% of the atrial fibrillation cohort had experienced a subsequent stroke, 6.5% subsequent TIA, and 2.6% died. Results of a multivariable logistic regression indicate no association between prescribed anticoagulation in the ED and these 90‐day outcomes (composite odds ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 0.74–2.52]). Major bleeding was found in 5 patients, none of whom were in the ED‐initiated anticoagulation group. Conclusions Initiating oral anticoagulation in the ED following new TIA was not associated with lower recurrence rates of neurovascular events or all‐cause mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Serial cardiac troponin (cTn) testing on patients with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is primarily to identify those patients with evolving myocardial injury. With the improved analytical performance of the high-sensitivity cTn (hs-cTn) assays, different change criteria have been proposed that are mostly assay dependent. Here, we developed and compared a new Common Change Criteria (3C for the combined criteria of >3 ng/L, >30%, or >15% based on the initial cTn concentration of 100 ng/L, respectively) method, versus the 2 h assay-dependent absolute change criteria endorsed by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), versus the common relative >20% change criterion. These different analytical change criteria were evaluated in 855 emergency department (ED) patients with symptoms of ACS and who had two samples collected 3 h apart. The cTn concentrations were measured with four different assays (Abbott hs-cTnI, Roche hs-cTnT, Ortho cTnI-ES, and Ortho hs-cTnI). The outcomes evaluated were myocardial infarction (MI) and a composite outcome (MI, unstable angina, ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure, or cardiovascular death) within 7 days of ED presentation. The combined change criteria (3C) method yielded higher specificities (range: 93.9 to 97.2%) as compared to the >20% criterion (range: 42.3 to 88.1%) for all four assays for MI. The 3C method only yielded a higher specificity estimate for MI for the cTnI-ES assay (95.9%) versus the absolute change criteria (71.7%). Similar estimates were obtained for the composite outcome. There was also substantial agreement between hs-cTnT and the different cTnI assays for MI with the 3C method, with the percent agreement being ≥95%. The Common Change Criteria (3C) method combining both absolute and different percent changes may be used with cTnI, hs-cTnT, and different hs-cTnI assays to yield similar high-specificity (rule-in) estimates for adverse cardiovascular events for patients presenting to the ED with ACS symptoms.

IntroductionWhile overdoses comprise the majority of opioid research, the comprehensive impact of the opioid crisis on emergency departments (EDs) and paramedic services has not been reported. We examined temporal changes in population-adjusted incidence rates of ED visits and paramedic transports due to opioid-related conditions.Materials and methodsWe conducted a population-based cohort study of all ED visits in the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2019 in Ontario, Canada. We included all patients with a primary diagnosis naming opioids as the underlying cause for the visit, without any other drugs or substances. We clustered geographic regions using Local Health Integration Network boundaries. Descriptive statistics, incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to analyze population-adjusted temporal changes.ResultsOverall, 86,403 ED visits were included in our study. Incidence of opioid-related ED visits increased by 165% in the study timeframe, with paramedic transported patients increasing by 429%. Per 100,000 residents, annual ED visits increased from 40.4 to 97.2, and paramedic transported patients from 12.1 to 67.9. The proportion of opioid-related ED visits transported by paramedics increased from 35.0% to 69.9%. The medical acuity of opioid-related ED visits increased throughout the years (IRR 6.8. 95% CI 5.9-7.7), though the proportion of discharges remained constant (~75%). The largest increases in ED visits and paramedic transports were concentrated to urbanized regions.DiscussionOpioid-related ED visits and paramedic transports increased substantially between 2009 and 2019. The proportion of ED visits transported by paramedics doubled. Our findings could provide valuable support to health stakeholders in implementing timely strategies aimed at safely reducing opioid-related ED visits. The increased use of paramedics followed by high rates of ED discharge calls for exploration of alternative care models within paramedic systems, such as direct transport to specialized substance abuse centres.

Introduction Redirecting suitable patients from the emergency department (ED) to alternative subacute settings may assist in reducing ED overcrowding while delivering equivalent care. The Emergency Department Avoidance Classification (EDAC) was constructed to retrospectively classify ED visits that may have been suitable for safe management in a subacute or virtual clinical setting. The EDAC has established face and content validity but has not been tested against a reference standard as a criterion.Objectives Our primary objective is to examine the agreement between the EDAC and ED physician judgements in retrospectively identifying ED visits suitable for subacute care management. Our secondary objective is to assess the validity of ED physicians’ judgement as a criterion standard. Our tertiary objective is to examine how the ED physician’s perception of a virtual ED care alternative correlates with the EDAC.Methods and analysis A randomised single-centre, single-blinded agreement study. We will randomly select ED charts between 1 January and 31 December 2019 from an academic hospital in Hamilton, Canada. ED charts will be randomly assigned to participating ED physicians who will evaluate if this ED visit could have been managed appropriately and safely in a subacute and/or virtual model of care. Each chart will be reviewed by two physicians independently. We compute our needed sample size to be 79 charts. We will use kappa statistics to measure inter-rater agreement. A repeated measures regression model of physician ratings will provide variance estimates that we will use to assess the intraclass correlation of ED physician ratings and the EDAC.Ethics and dissemination This study has been approved by the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (2022-14625). If validated, the EDAC may provide an ED-based classification to identify potentially avoidable ED visits, monitor ED visit trends, and proactively delineate those best suited for subacute or virtual care models.

Aim: To evaluate the prognosis of 30-day survival post-cardiac arrest among patients receiving home care and nursing home residents. Methods: We conducted a population-level retrospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults (≥18 years) who received cardiac arrest care at a hospital in Ontario, Canada, between 2006 to 2018. We linked population-based health datasets using the Home Care Dataset to identify patients receiving home care and the Continuing Care Reporting System to identify nursing home residents. We included both out-of-hospital and in-hospital cardiac arrests. We determined unadjusted and adjusted associations using logistic regression after adjusting for age and sex. We converted relative measures to absolute risks. Results: Our cohort contained 86,836 individuals. Most arrests (55.5 %) occurred out-of-hospital, with 9,316 patients enrolled in home care and 2,394 residing in a nursing home. When compared to those receiving no support services, the likelihood of survival to 30-days was lower for those receiving home care (RD = −6.5; 95 %CI = −7.5 – −5.0), with similar results found within sub-groups of out-of-hospital (RD = −6.7; 95 %CI = −7.6 – −5.7) and in-hospital arrests (RD = −8.7; 95 %CI = −10.6 – −7.3). The likelihood of 30-day survival was lower for nursing home residents (RD = −7.2; 95 %CI = −9.3 - −5.3) with similar results found within sub-groups of out-of-hospital (RD = −8.6; 95 %CI = −10.6 – −5.7) and in-hospital arrests (RD = −5.0; 95 %CI = −7.8 – −2.1). Conclusion: Patients receiving home care and nursing home residents had worse overall prognoses of survival post-cardiac arrest compared to those receiving no pre-arrest support, highlighting two medically-complex groups likely to benefit from advance care planning.

ImportanceIt is known that only minority of patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive treatment, of which only a fraction successfully complete treatment as intended. Factors associated with poor treatment outcomes remain unclear, and there is emerging but conflicting evidence that cannabis use may mitigate opioid use.ObjectiveTo analyze predictors of relapse amongst patients receiving buprenorphine-naloxone for OUD and identify the association between cannabis use and time to relapse.DesignData were prospectively collected between May 2018 and October 2020, and patients were followed for 12 months.SettingThirty-one outpatient opioid agonist treatment clinics across Ontario, Canada.ParticipantsAll patients 16 years of age or older receiving buprenorphine-naloxone for OUD who had a urine toxicology screen negative for opioids at baseline were eligible for inclusion. Of the 488 patients consecutively sampled, 466 were included.ExposureCannabis use.Main outcome and measureRelapse to opioid use assessed using urine toxicology screens. We employed a multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model for our analyses.ResultsWe found that cannabis use was not protective against relapse [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78, 1.36, p = 0.84]. We found that participants who have been in treatment for at least two years had a 44% decrease in the hazard of relapse compared to those in treatment for less than a year (HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.92, p = 0.021). We also found that the hazard of relapse was 2.6 times higher for participants who were intravenous drug users (HR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.74, 3.91, p < 0.001), and that for every 1mg increase in the participants’ buprenorphine-naloxone dose, the hazard of relapse is 2% greater (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.03, p < 0.001).ConclusionOur analysis failed to show cannabis to be protective against relapse to opioid use in patients receiving buprenorphine-naloxone for OUD. We identified that individuals who inject drugs, are on higher doses of buprenorphine-naloxone, or have been in treatment for less than two years have a higher hazard for relapse. The presence of such factors may thus warrant closer patient follow-up and more stringent treatment protocols to mitigate risk of relapse and potential overdose.

Abstract Background Increasing hospitalization rates present unique challenges to manage limited inpatient bed capacity and services. Transport by paramedics to the emergency department (ED) may influence hospital admission decisions independent of patient need/acuity, though this relationship has not been established. We examined whether mode of transportation to the ED was independently associated with hospital admission. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS) from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020 in Ontario, Canada. We included all adult patients (≥18 years) who received a triage score in the ED and presented via paramedic transport or self-referral (walk-in). Multivariable binary logistic regression was used to determine the association of mode of transportation between hospital admission, after adjusting for important patient and visit characteristics. Results During the study period, 21,764,640 ED visits were eligible for study inclusion. Approximately one-fifth (18.5%) of all ED visits were transported by paramedics. All-cause hospital admission incidence was greater when transported by paramedics (35.0% vs. 7.5%) and with each decreasing Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale level. Paramedic transport was independently associated with hospital admission (OR = 3.76; 95%CI = 3.74–3.77), in addition to higher medical acuity, older age, male sex, greater than two comorbidities, treatment in an urban setting and discharge diagnoses specific to the circulatory or digestive systems. Conclusions Transport by paramedics to an ED was independently associated with hospital admission as the disposition outcome, when compared against self-referred visits. Our findings highlight patient and visit characteristics associated with hospital admission, and can be used to inform proactive healthcare strategizing for in-patient bed management.

Abstract Background Patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) frequently present with comorbid psychiatric illnesses which have significant implications for their treatment outcomes. Notably, these are often identified by self-report. Our study examined the sensitivity and specificity of self-reported psychiatric diagnoses against a structured diagnostic interview in a cohort of patients receiving outpatient pharmacological treatment for OUD. Methods Using cross-sectional data from adults receiving outpatient opioid agonist treatment for OUD in clinics across Ontario, Canada, we compared participants’ self-reported psychiatric diagnoses with those identified by the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Version 6.0 administered at the time of study entry. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for self-report of psychiatric diagnoses. Results Amongst a sample of 683 participants, 24% (n = 162) reported having a comorbid psychiatric disorder. Only 104 of these 162 individuals (64%) reporting a comorbidity met criteria for a psychiatric disorder as per the MINI; meanwhile, 304 (75%) participants who self-reported no psychiatric comorbidity were in fact identified to meet MINI criteria for a psychiatric disorder. The sensitivity and specificity for any self-reported psychiatric diagnoses were 25.5% (95% CI 21.3, 30.0) and 78.9% (95% CI 73.6, 83.6), respectively. Conclusions Our findings raise questions about the utility of self-reported psychiatric comorbidity in patients with OUD, particularly in the context of low sensitivity of self-reported diagnoses. Several factors may contribute to this including remittance and relapse of some psychiatric illnesses, underdiagnosis, and the challenge of differentiating psychiatric and substance-induced disorders. These findings highlight that other methods should be considered in order to identify comorbid psychiatric disorders in patients with OUD.

Abstract Background Due to the loss of tolerance to opioids during medication-assisted treatment (MAT), this period may represent a time of heightened risk for overdose. Identifying factors associated with increased risk of overdose during treatment is therefore paramount to improving outcomes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of opioid overdoses in patients receiving MAT. Additionally, we explored factors associated with opioid overdose during MAT and the association between length of time enrolled in MAT and overdose. Methods Data were collected prospectively from 2360 participants receiving outpatient MAT in Ontario, Canada. Participants were divided into three groups by overdose status: no history of overdose, any lifetime history of overdose, and emergency department visit for opioid overdose in the last year. We used a multivariate multinomial regression model to assess demographic and clinical factors associated with overdose status. Results Twenty-four percent of participants reported a lifetime history of overdose (n = 562), and 8% reported an emergency department (ED) visit for opioid overdose in the last year (n = 179). Individuals with a recent ED visit for opioid overdose were in treatment for shorter duration (odds ratio [OR] 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.87, 0.97, p = 0.001). Individuals with a lifetime or recent history of overdose were more likely to be younger in age (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89, 0.98, p = 0.007 and OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.77, 0.92, p

Abstract Background As the legalization of recreational cannabis becomes more widespread, its impact on individuals with substance use disorders must be studied. Amidst an ongoing opioid crisis, Canada’s legalization of recreational cannabis in October 2018 provides an important setting for investigation. We examined changes to cannabis use patterns in patients receiving medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) following legalization. Methods This study includes cross-sectional data from 602 participants recruited 6 months pre-legalization and 788 participants recruited 6 months post-legalization, providing information on cannabis use. Regression analysis was used to estimate the association between legalization and cannabis use patterns. We collected longitudinal urine drug screens (UDSs) detecting cannabis-metabolites for 199 participants recruited pre-legalization and followed prospectively post-legalization. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess the association between legalization and UDS results. Results Past-month cannabis use was self-reported by 54.8 and 52.3% of participants recruited pre- and post-legalization, respectively. Legalization was not associated with changes in any measured cannabis characteristics: cannabis use (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.73–1.13), days of use/month (B -0.42, 95% CI - 2.05-1.21), money spent, or cannabis source. There was no association between legalization and prevalence of cannabis use on UDS (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.93–2.99) or percentage of cannabis-positive UDSs (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99–1.01). Participants overwhelmingly reported that legalization would have no impact on their cannabis use (85.7%). Conclusions Amongst patients treated for OUD, no significant change in cannabis use was observed following legalization; however, high rates of cannabis use are noted.

Abstract Background With the ongoing opioid crisis and policy changes regarding legalization of cannabis occurring around the world, it is necessary to consider cannabis use in the context of opioid use disorder (OUD) and its treatment. We aimed to examine (1) past-month cannabis use in patients with OUD, (2) self-reported cannabis-related side effects and craving, and (3) the association between specific characteristics of cannabis use and opioid use during treatment in cannabis users. Methods Participants receiving pharmacological treatment for OUD (n = 2315) were recruited from community-based addiction treatment clinics in Ontario, Canada, and provided information on past-month cannabis use (self-report). Participants were followed for 3 months with routine urine drug screens in order to assess opioid use during treatment. We used logistic regression analysis to explore (1) the association between any cannabis use and opioid use during treatment, and (2) amongst cannabis-users, specific cannabis use characteristics associated with opioid use. Qualitative methods were used to examine responses to the question: “What effect does marijuana have on your treatment?”. Results Past-month cannabis use was reported by 51% of participants (n = 1178). Any cannabis use compared to non-use was not associated with opioid use (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.87–1.23, p = 0.703). Amongst cannabis users, nearly 70% reported daily use, and half reported experiencing cannabis-related side effects, with the most common side effects being slower thought process (26.2%) and lack of motivation (17.3%). For cannabis users, daily cannabis use was associated with lower odds of opioid use, when compared with occasional use (OR = 0.61, 95% CI 0.47–0.79, p

Abstract Objective eCTAS is a real‐time electronic decision‐support tool designed to standardize the application of the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale (CTAS). This study addresses the variability of CTAS score distributions across institutions pre‐ and post‐eCTAS implementation. Methods We used population‐based administrative data from 2016–2018 from all emergency departments (EDs) that had implemented eCTAS for 9 months. Following a 3‐month stabilization period, we compared 6 months post‐eCTAS data to the same 6 months the previous year (pre‐eCTAS). We included triage encounters of adult (≥17 years) patients who presented with 1 of 16 pre‐specified, high‐volume complaints. For each ED, consistency was calculated as the absolute difference in CTAS distribution compared to the average of all included EDs for each presenting complaint. Pre‐eCTAS and post‐eCTAS change scores were compared using a paired‐samples t‐test. We also assessed if eCTAS modifiers were associated with triage consistency. Results There were 363,214 (183,231 pre‐eCTAS, 179,983 post‐eCTAS) triage encounters included from 35 EDs. Triage scores were more consistent (P

Background: For patients investigated for suspected acute coronary syndrome, there is uncertainty if a single measurement of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) at emergency department (ED) presentation can identify patients at both low and high risk for mortality. Methods: We included consecutive adult patients in the ED who had a Clinical Chemistry Score (CCS) taken at presentation (ie, combination of glucose, creatinine for estimated glomerular filtration rate determination, and hs-cTnI assay) in a Canadian city between 2012 and 2013. Outcomes were 3-month, 1-year, and 5-year all-cause mortality using the provincial death registry. Mortality rates and test performance (eg, sensitivity and specificity) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained for the CCS or hs-cTnI assay alone using established cutoffs for these tests. Results: Our cohort included 5974 patients with a 1-year mortality rate of 17.2% (95% CI, 16.2-18.3). A CCS ≥ 1 yielded a sensitivity of 99.2% (95% CI, 98.4-99.6) compared with the hs-cTnI ≥ 5 ng/L cutoff sensitivity of 88.4% (95% CI, 86.3-90.3), with the mortality rate being significantly lower for patients with CCS < 1 (2.0%; 95% CI, 0.9-4.0) vs patients with hs-cTnI < 5 ng/L (5.0%; 95% CI, 4.2-6.0) at 1 year (P = 0.01). A CCS of 5 also yielded a higher specificity (88.5%; 95% CI, 87.5-89.3) compared with hs-cTnI > 26 ng/L (83.9%; 95% CI, 82.9-84.9), with no difference in mortality rates (37.4% vs 36.3%; P = 0.66). This trend was consistent at 3-month and 5-year mortality. Conclusion: For patients in the ED with a potential cardiac issue, using the CCS cutoffs can better identify patients at low and high risk for mortality than using published cutoffs for hs-cTnI alone. Résumé: Contexte: Dans le cas des patients chez qui l’on soupçonne un syndrome coronarien aigu, des doutes subsistent à savoir si la mesure de la troponine I cardiaque à haute sensibilité (TnIc-hs) à l’arrivée au service des urgences peut, à elle seule, permettre de repérer les patients présentant un risque de mortalité faible ou élevé. Méthodologie: L’étude portait sur les patients adultes qui se sont présentés consécutivement au service des urgences dans une ville canadienne entre 2012 et 2013 et pour lesquels un score CCS (Clinical Chemistry Score, ou score des paramètres biochimiques cliniques, c’est-à-dire glycémie, créatininémie [aux fins du calcul du débit de filtration glomérulaire estimé] et dosage de la TnIc-hs) a été établi à leur arrivée. Les critères d’évaluation étaient la mortalité toutes causes confondues à 3 mois, à 1 an et à 5 ans, déterminée à partir des actes de décès inscrits au registre provincial. Les taux de mortalité et la fiabilité des tests (sensibilité et spécificité) avec des intervalles de confiance (IC) à 95 % ont été déterminés pour le score CCS et pour le dosage de la TnIc-hs seulement au moyen des valeurs seuils établies pour ces tests. Résultats: La cohorte réunissait 5 974 patients, et le taux de mortalité à 1 an s’établissait à 17,2 % (IC à 95 % : 16,2-18,3). Un score CCS ≥ 1 a été associé à une sensibilité de 99,2 % (IC à 95 % : 98,4-99,6) comparativement à 88,4 % (IC à 95 % : 86,3-90,3) pour une valeur seuil de TnIc-hs ≥ 5 ng/l, le taux de mortalité à 1 an étant significativement plus bas chez les patients ayant un score CCS < 1 (2,0 %; IC à 95 % : 0,9-4,0) que chez ceux ayant un taux de TnIc-hs < 5 ng/l (5,0 %; IC à 95 % : 4,2-6,0) (p = 0,01). Un score CCS de 5 a en outre été associé à une plus grande spécificité (88,5 %; IC à 95 % : 87,5-89,3) qu’un taux de TnIc-hs > 26 ng/l (83,9 %; IC à 95 % : 82,9-84,9); il n’y avait pas de différence entre les taux de mortalité (37,4 % vs 36,3 %; p = 0,66). Les résultats relatifs à la mortalité à 3 mois et à 5 ans concordaient avec cette tendance. Conclusion: Dans le cas des patients admis au service des urgences en raison d’un problème cardiaque potentiel, les valeurs seuils du score CCS peuvent permettre de mieux repérer les patients qui présentent un risque de mortalité faible ou élevé, comparativement aux seules valeurs seuils publiées des taux de TnIc-hs.

Abstract Background Social functioning (SF), the ability to engage with life and fulfill roles may be a salient “patient important outcome” in addiction treatment. It is not known if medication-assisted treatment (MAT) impacts SF in opioid use disorder (OUD). There is a growing evidence to suggest that men and women are impacted differently by OUD. This study is the largest to date to study sex differences in OUD and explore associations between MAT and SF. Methods Data were collected from 2736 participants with OUD, enrolled in MAT for varying lengths of time, in outpatient clinics across Ontario. SF was defined according to the Maudsley Addiction Profile’s domains of (1) employment, (2) criminal activity, and (3) interpersonal conflict. Using logistic regression analysis, we examined sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with domains of SF. Results There were 1544 men (56%) and 1192 women (44%) in this study, and ages varied from 17 to 76 years for men and 18 to 69 years for women. At study entry, participants had been on MAT for a median of 2 years. Compared to men, women reported more psychological (mean MAP score 14/40, SD = 9.55, versus 11/40, SD = 8.64; p < 0.001) and physical symptoms (mean MAP score 17/40, SD = 7.70 versus 14/40, SD = 7.74; p < 0.001). More women reported unemployment(74% versus 58%; p < 0.0001) and interpersonal conflict (46% versus 35%; p < 0.0001). Men were more likely than women to report criminal activity (11%, versus 8%; p = 0.001). Psychological symptoms increased the risk of worse SF, across domains, for men and for women. Every year on MAT was associated with a 7% increase in the odds of women engaging with criminal activity (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.02, 1.12, p = 0.006). Conclusions Men and women had different SF profiles and psychological symptoms scores while on MAT. The length of time on MAT increased the risk of criminal activity in women, and overall, duration of MAT was not associated with improvement in SF. This may suggest that MAT alone may not support continual improvements in SF in OUD.

Abstract Background Given the complex nature of opioid addiction treatment and the rising number of available opioid substitution and antagonist therapies (OSAT), there is no ‘gold standard’ measure of treatment effectiveness, and each successive trial measures a different set of outcomes which reflect success in arbitrary or opportune terms. We sought to describe the variation in current outcomes employed across clinical trials for opioid addiction, as well as determine whether a discrepancy exists between the treatment targets that patients consider important and how treatment effectiveness is measured in the literature. Methods We searched nine commonly used databases (e.g., EMBASE, MEDLINE) from inception to August 1, 2015. Outcomes used across trials were extracted and categorized according to previously established domains. To evaluate patient-reported goals of treatment, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 adults undergoing methadone treatment. Results We identified 60 trials eligible for inclusion. Once outcomes were categorized into eight broad domains (e.g., abstinence/substance abuse), we identified 21 specific outcomes with furthermore 53 subdomains and 118 measurements. Continued opioid use and treatment retention were the most commonly reported measures (46%, n = 28). The majority of patients agreed that abstinence from opioids was a primary goal in their treatment, although they also stressed goals under-reported in clinical trials. Conclusions There is inconsistency in the measures used to evaluate the effectiveness of OSATs. Individual and population level decision making is being guided by a standard of effect considered useful to researchers yet in direct conflict with what patients deem important. Trial registration PROSPERO, CRD42013006507.

Background Exposure to traumatic events is both a risk factor for substance use and an adverse outcome of substance use disorders. Identifying and managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in patients with addiction requires attention. Aims To examine the lifetime prevalence of traumatic events and past-month prevalence of PSTD in patients treated for opioid use disorder, and explore the association between trauma, PTSD and treatment outcomes. Method Participants (n = 674) receiving methadone treatment in 20 community clinics across Ontario, Canada, were administered the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview to identify self-reported traumatic events and PTSD. Drug use was measured for 12 months by urine drug screens. Results Eleven per cent of participants met past-month criteria for PTSD (n = 72), and 48% reported history of traumatic events with no current PTSD (n = 323). Participants with PTSD were more likely to be female (odds ratio 2.13, 95% CI 1.20–3.76) and less likely to be employed (odds ratio 0.31, 95% CI 0.16–0.61) or married (odds ratio 0.51, 95% CI 0.26–0.90) than those with no trauma history. Antidepressants (39 v. 24%) and benzodiazepines (36 v. 18%) were differentially prescribed to patients with and without PTSD. Length of time in treatment and opioid use were not associated with trauma; however, suicidal ideation was more common in PTSD (odds ratio 2.29, 95% CI 1.04–5.01). Conclusions Trauma and PTSD are prevalent among patients with opioid use disorder, and consideration of trauma symptoms and associated characteristics is warranted. Patients with and without comorbid PTSD differ clinically and psychosocially, highlighting the relevance of integrating addiction and mental health services for this population.

Introduction Ontario ambulances are restricted from patient transportation to sub-acute levels of care when these facilities may be more suitable than emergency departments for non-emergent conditions. There is no known patient classification specifically constructed to inform ED diversion protocols and guidance for sub-acute centre transportation for primary care–like patient conditions.Objective To construct a novel patient classification of potentially preventable emergency department visits following transport by ambulance, and analyse patient-level characteristic associations with this classification based in Ontario secondary data.Methods and analysis The Primary Care–like Ambulance transports following Response for 911-Emergencies (PriCARE) patient classification will be constructed using a two-phase RAND/UCLA modified Delphi design. All experts included are physicians with relevant experience in emergency and/or primary care in Ontario. The first phase of the study will determine consensus of the expert committee on which ED interventions performed on patients with non-emergent acuities could be conducted in sub-acute healthcare centres. The second phase will assess consensus of which patient, hospital and acuity factors are most appropriate to be incorporated into a PriCARE classification. We will also investigate secondary outcomes on consensus of which ED interventions could be transferred to a paramedic context given an expanded scope of practice and patient-level characteristics of PriCARE classified individuals.Ethics and dissemination This study received a research ethics board exemption waiver from the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board; review reference 2020-11451-GRA. Results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences. The results will be shared with Ontario paramedic services and governing institutions. This study will be used to inform patient classification protocols and clinical decision tools for ambulances to transport to sub-acute healthcare centres.Trial registration number ISRCTN22901977.

Objectives Existing methods of measuring effectiveness of pharmacological treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) are highly variable. Therefore, understanding patients’ treatment goals is an integral part of patient-centred care. Our objective is to explore whether patients’ treatment goals align with a frequently used clinical outcome, opioid abstinence.Design Triangulation mixed-methods design.Setting and participants We collected prospective data from 2030 participants who were receiving methadone or buprenorphine-naloxone treatment for a diagnosis of OUD in order to meet study inclusion criteria. Participants were recruited from 45 centrally-managed outpatient opioid agonist therapy clinics in Ontario, Canada. At study entry, we asked, ‘What are your goals in treatment?’ and used NVivo software to identify common themes.Primary outcome measure Urine drug screens (UDS) were collected for 3 months post-study enrolment in order to identify abstinence versus ongoing opioid use (mean number of UDS over 3 months=12.6, SD=5.3). We used logistic regression to examine the association between treatment goals and opioid abstinence.Results Participants had a mean age of 39.2 years (SD=10.7), 44% were women and median duration in treatment was 2.6 years (IQR 5.2). Six overarching goals were identified from patient responses, including ‘stop or taper off of treatment’ (68%), ‘stay or get clean’ (37%) and ‘live a normal life’ (14%). Participants reporting the goal ‘stay or get clean’ had lower odds of abstinence at 3 months than those who did not report this goal (OR=0.73, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.91, p=0.005). Although the majority of patients wanted to taper off or stop medication, this goal was not associated with opioid abstinence, nor were any of their other goals.Conclusions Patient goals in OUD treatment do not appear to be associated with programme measures of outcome (ie, abstinence from opioids). Future studies are needed to examine outcomes related to patient-reported treatment goals found in our study; pain management, employment, and stopping/tapering treatment should all be explored.

BackgroundPatients receiving treatment for opioid-use disorder (OUD) may experience psychological symptoms without meeting full criteria for psychiatric disorders. The impact of these symptoms on treatment outcomes is unclear.AimsTo determine the prevalence of psychological symptoms in a cohort of individuals receiving medication-assisted treatment for OUD and explore their association with patient characteristics and outcomes in treatment.MethodData were collected from 2788 participants receiving ongoing treatment for OUD recruited in two Canadian prospective cohort studies. The Maudsley Addiction Profile psychological symptoms subscale was administered to all participants via face-to-face interviews. A subset of participants (n = 666) also received assessment for psychiatric disorders with the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. We used linear regression analysis to explore factors associated with psychological symptom score.ResultsThe mean psychological symptom score was 12.6/40 (s.d. = 9.2). Participants with psychiatric comorbidity had higher scores than those without (mean 16.8 v. 8.6, P

Guidelines published in 2021 have supported natriuretic peptide (NP) testing for the prognostication in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and for the diagnosis of chronic and acute heart failure (HF). Our objective was to determine if the addition of N-terminal pro B-type NP (NT-proBNP) and glucose to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) could better identify emergency department (ED) patients with potential ACS at low- and high-risk for a serious cardiovascular outcome over the next 72 h. The presentation sample in two different ED cohorts which enrolled patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS within six hours of pain onset (Cohort-1, n = 126 and Cohort-2, n = 143) that had Abbott hs-cTnI, Roche hs-cTnT, NT-proBNP and glucose were evaluated for NT-proBNP alone and combined with hs-cTn and glucose for the primary outcome (composite which included death, myocardial infarction, HF, serious arrhythmia and refractory angina) via receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses with area under the curve (AUC) and diagnostic estimates derived. The AUC for NT-proBNP for the primary outcome was 0.68 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59–0.76) and 0.75 (95%CI: 0.67–0.82) in Cohort-1 and 2, respectively, with the 125 ng/L cutoff yielding a higher sensitivity (≥75%) as compared to the 300 ng/L cutoff (≥58%). Using the 125 ng/L cutoff for NT-proBNP with the published glucose and hs-cTn cutoffs for risk-stratification produced a new score (GuIDER score for Glucose, Injury and Dysfunction in the Emergency-setting for cardiovascular-Risk) and yielded higher AUCs as compared to NT-proBNP (p < 0.05). GuIDER scores of 0 and 5 using either hs-cTnI/T yielded sensitivity estimates of 100% and specificity estimates > 92% for the primary outcome. A secondary analysis assessing MI alone in the overall population (combined Cohorts 1 and 2) also achieved 100% sensitivity for MI with a GuIDER cutoff ≥ 2, ruling-out 48% (Roche) and 38% (Abbott) of the population at presentation for MI. Additional studies are needed for the GuIDER score in both the acute and ambulatory setting to further refine the utility, however, the preliminary findings reported here may present a pathway forward for inclusion of NP testing for ruling-out serious cardiac events and MI in the emergency setting.

Serial high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hsTn) testing in the emergency department (ED) and the intensive cardiac care unit may assist physicians in ruling out or ruling in acute myocardial infarction (MI). There are three major algorithms proposed for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hsTnI) using serial measurements while incorporating absolute concentration changes for MI or death following ED presentation. We sought to determine the diagnostic estimates of these three algorithms and if one was superior in two different Canadian ED patient cohorts with serial hsTnI measurements. An undifferentiated ED population (Cohort-1) and an ED population with symptoms suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS; Cohort-2) were clinically managed with non-hsTn testing with the hsTnI testing performed in real-time with physicians blinded to these results (i.e., hsTnI not reported). The three algorithms evaluated were the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the High-STEACS pathway, and the COMPASS-MI algorithm. The diagnostic estimates were derived for each algorithm for the 30-day MI/death outcome for the rule-out and rule-in arm in each cohort and compared to proposed diagnostic benchmarks (i.e., sensitivity ≥ 99.0% and specificity ≥ 90.0%) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). In Cohort-1 (n = 2966 patients, 15.3% had outcome) and Cohort-2 (n = 935 patients, 15.6% had outcome), the algorithm that obtained the highest sensitivity (97.8%; 95% CI: 96.0–98.9 and 98.6%; 95% CI: 95.1–99.8, respectively) in both cohorts was COMPASS-MI. Only Cohort-2 with both the ESC and COMPASS-MI algorithms exceeded the specificity benchmark (97.0%; 95% CI: 95.5–98.0 and 96.7%; 95% CI: 95.2–97.8, respectively). Patient selection for serial hsTnI testing will affect specificity estimates, with no algorithm achieving a sensitivity ≥ 99% for 30-day MI or death.

Abstract Background Acute low back pain (ALBP) is the top cause of global disability, demonstrating a significant impact on individuals and society and demanding the need for appropriate management. There is a trend towards an increasing number of opioid prescriptions for ALBP despite the lack of investigation for its various short- and long-term outcomes. The objective of this review is to examine adverse outcomes associated with opioid use for ALBP. Methods/design Using a search strategy, the search will be conducted using the following electronic databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, the National Institutes for Health Clinical Trials Registry and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (WHO ICTRP). We will include randomized clinical trials and observational studies investigating the impact of opioid use in ALBP in the adult population. All phases of screening, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality will be performed by two independent reviewers. We will perform quality and risk of bias assessment for the included articles and compare high and low risk of bias with a sensitivity analysis. We will conduct random- and fixed-effects meta-analyses with heterogeneity calculated using the I 2 statistic and evaluate publication bias. Discussion There are current guidelines published to alert clinicians in prescribing opioids for ALBP due to its likelihood of misuse, yet there is little change in prescribing patterns. To date, there is an absence of systematic information about the outcomes of prescription opioid in patients with ALBP. We will address this gap by providing evidence that will be useful for clinical practice. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42016033090

Abstract Background Cannabis will soon become legalized in Canada, and it is currently unclear how this will impact public health. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is the most common pharmacological treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), and despite its documented effectiveness, a large number of patients respond poorly and experience relapse to illicit opioids. Some studies implicate cannabis use as a risk factor for poor MMT response. Although it is well established that substance-use behaviors differ by sex, few of these studies have considered sex as a potential moderator. The current study aims to investigate sex differences in the association between cannabis use and illicit opioid use in a cohort of MMT patients. Methods This multicentre study recruited participants on MMT for OUD from Canadian Addiction Treatment Centre sites in Ontario, Canada. Sex differences in the association between any cannabis use and illicit opioid use were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. A secondary analysis was conducted to investigate the association with heaviness of cannabis use. Results The study included 414 men and 363 women with OUD receiving MMT. Cannabis use was significantly associated with illicit opioid use in women only (OR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.18, 2.82, p = 0.007). Heaviness of cannabis use was not associated with illicit opioid use in men or women. Conclusions This is the largest study to date examining the association between cannabis use and illicit opioid use. Cannabis use may be a sex-specific predictor of poor response to MMT, such that women are more likely to use illicit opioids if they also use cannabis during treatment. Women may show improved treatment outcomes if cannabis use is addressed during MMT.

Abstract Background Opioid use disorder (OUD) affects approximately 21.9 million people worldwide. This study aims to determine the association between age of onset of opioid use and comorbid disorders, both physical and psychiatric, in patients receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for OUD. Understanding this association may inform clinical practice about important prognostic factors of patients on MMT, enabling clinicians to identify high-risk patients. Methods This study includes data collected between June 2011 and August 2016 for the Genetics of Opioid Addiction research collaborative between McMaster University and the Canadian Addiction Treatment Centers. All patients were interviewed by trained health professionals using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and case report forms. Physical comorbidities were verified using patients’ electronic medical records. A multi-variable logistic regression model was constructed to determine the strength of the association between age of onset of opioid use and the presence of physical or psychiatric comorbidity while adjusting for current age, sex, body mass index, methadone dose and smoking status. Results Data from 627 MMT patients with a mean age of 38.8 years (SD = 11.07) were analyzed. Individuals with an age of onset of opioid use younger than 18 years were found to be at higher odds for having a physical or psychiatric comorbid disorder compared to individuals with an age of onset of opioid use of 31 years or older (odds ratio 2.94, 95% confidence interval 1.20, 7.19, p = 0.02). A significant association was not found between the risk of having a comorbidity and an age of onset of opioid use between 18 and 25 years or 26 and 30 years, compared to an age of onset of opioid use of 31 years or older. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that the younger one begins to use opioids, the greater their chance of having a physical or psychiatric co-morbidity. Understanding the risk posed by an earlier onset of opioid use for the later development of comorbid disorders informs clinical practice about important prognostic predictors and aids in the identification of high-risk patients.

Abstract Background Amphetamine and methamphetamine use disorders are associated with severe health and social consequences. No pharmacological therapy has been approved for the treatment of these disorders. Psychostimulants can act as maintenance-like therapies for managing substance use among these patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the literature examining the efficacy and safety of psychostimulant agents for increasing abstinence and treatment retention among patients with amphetamine and methamphetamine use disorders. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycInfo, Cochrane Central, and CINAHL from inception to August 2016. Selection of studies, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. We conducted meta-analyses to provide a pooled summary estimate for included trials and report the review according to PRISMA guidelines. Results We identified and selected 17 studies with 1387 participants. Outcome reporting across trials was inconsistent, and the overall quality of evidence was very low due to high risk of bias and indirectness. A meta-analysis of five trials (642 participants) found no effect of psychostimulants for end-of-study abstinence (odds ratio = 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.65 to 1.45). Additionally, the pooled estimate from 14 studies (1184 participants) showed no effect of psychostimulants for treatment retention (odds ratio = 1.20, 95% confidence interval = 0.91 to 1.58). The incidence of serious adverse events did not differ between intervention and placebo groups based on qualitative reports from trials. Conclusions Quantitative analyses showed no effect of psychostimulants for sustained abstinence or treatment retention. We also identified the need for more rigorous studies in this research area with clinician and patient important outcomes.

Differences in patient classification of myocardial injury between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assays have largely been attributed to assay design and analytical sensitivity aspects. Our objective was to compare Ortho Clinical Diagnostics’ (OCD) hs-cTnI assay to OCD’s contemporary/conventional assay (cTnI ES) and another hs-cTnI assay (Abbott hs-cTnI) in samples obtained from different emergency departments (EDs). Two different sample types were evaluated (lithium heparin and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) plasma) in a non-selected ED population (study 1, n = 469 samples) and in patients for which ED physicians ordered cardiac troponin testing (study 2, n = 1147 samples), from five different EDs. The incidence of injury in study 1 was higher with the OCD hs-cTnI assay (30.9%; 95% CI: 26.9 to 35.2) compared to that of the Abbott hs-cTnI (17.3%; 95% CI: 14.1 to 21.0) and the OCD cTnI ES (15.4%; 95% CI: 12.4 to 18.9) assays, with repeat testing identifying 4.8% (95% CI: 3.0 to 7.5) of the OCD hs-cTnI results with poor reproducibility. In study 2, 4.6% (95% CI: 3.5 to 6.0) of the results were not reported for the OCD hs-cTnI assay (i.e., poor reproducibility) with 12.7% (95%CI: 8.7 to 17.8) of the OCD hs-cTnI results positive for injury being negative for injury with the Abbott hs-cTnI assay. In summary, the OCD hs-cTnI assay yields higher rates of biochemical injury with a higher rate of poor reproducible results in different ED populations.

Background. Validity of pain recall is questioned in research. Objective. To evaluate the reliability of pain intensity recall for seniors in an emergency department (ED). Methods. This study was part of a prospective multicenter project for seniors (≥65 years old) treated in an ED for minor traumatic injury. Pain intensity (0–10 numerical rating scale) was evaluated at the initial ED visit, at one week (baseline), and 3 months. At three months, patients were asked to recall the pain intensity they had at baseline. Results. 482 patients were interviewed (mean age 76.6 years, SD ± 7.3) and 72.8% were female. Intraclass correlation coefficient between pain at baseline and its recall was 0.24 (95% CI: 0.14–0.33). Senior patients tended to overestimate their pain intensity by a mean of 1.2 (95% CI: 0.9–1.5) units. A stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the variance of baseline pain recall at 3 months was explained by pain at ED visit (11%), pain at 3 months (7%), and pain at baseline (2%). Conclusion. The accuracy of pain intensity recall after three months is poor in seniors and seems to be influenced by the pain experienced at the time of injury.

Background: Isolated dysarthria is an uncommon presentation of transient ischemic attack (TIA)/minor stroke and has a broad differential diagnosis. There is little information in the literature about how often this presentation is confirmed to be a TIA/stroke, and therefore there is debate about the risk of subsequent vascular events. Given the uncertain prognosis, it is unclear how to best manage patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with isolated dysarthria. The objective of this study was to prospectively identify and follow a cohort of patients presenting to EDs with isolated dysarthria in order to explore their natural history and risk of recurrent cerebrovascular events. Specifically, we sought to determine early outcomes of individuals with this nonspecific and atypical presentation in order to appropriately expedite their management. Methods: Patients with isolated dysarthria having presented to 8 Canadian EDs between October 2006 and April 2009 were analyzed as part of a prospective multicenter cohort study of patients with acute neurological symptoms as assessed by emergency physicians. The study inclusion criteria were age ≥18 years, a normal level of consciousness, and a symptom onset Results: Between 2006 and 2009, 1,528 patients were enrolled and had a 90-day follow-up. Of these, 43 patients presented with isolated acute-onset dysarthria (2.8%). Recurrent stroke occurred in 6/43 (14.0%) within 90 days of enrollment. The predicted maximal 90-day stroke rate was 9.8% (based on a median ABCD2 score of 5 for the isolated dysarthria cohort). After adjusting for covariates, isolated dysarthria independently predicted stroke within 90 days (aOR: 3.96; 95% CI: 1.3-11.9; p = 0.014). Conclusions: The isolated dysarthria cohort carried a recurrent stroke risk comparable to that predicted by the median ABCD2 scores. Although isolated dysarthria is a nonspecific and uncommon clinical presentation of TIA, these findings support the need to view it first and foremost as a vascular presentation until proven otherwise and to manage such patients as if they were at high risk of stroke in accordance with established high-risk TIA guidelines.