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OBJECTIVE: The HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately involves socially vulnerable populations. Since 2001, the proportion of foreign-born patients served by the Northern Alberta HIV Program has increased. Our study aimed to evaluate antiretroviral therapy (ART) outcomes among HIV-infected foreign-born patients in northern Alberta, Canada, prescribed once-daily ART. METHODS: We utilized a two-part retrospective cohort study to compare ART outcomes of foreign-born and Canadian-born Aboriginal patients compared to Canadian-born non-Aboriginal patients. Part 1 utilized logistic regression to compare the odds of experiencing initial virological suppression of foreign-born (40%) and Canadian-born Aboriginal patients (27%) compared with Canadian-born non-Aboriginal patients (33%). Part 2 used survival analysis to compare the rate of ART failure by country of origin among patients who achieved initial virological suppression in Part 1. RESULTS: Our study sample included 322 treatment-naive patients (122 foreign-born). For Part 1, 261 patients achieved initial virological suppression within six months of initiating ART. After controlling for age, treatment regimen, HIV risk exposure, and calendar year compared to Canadian-born non-Aboriginal patients, the odds of achieving initial virological suppression were significantly lower for Canadian-born Aboriginal patients (OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.20-0.96); and similar for foreign-born patients (OR=0.76, 95% CI: 0.33-1.73). Part 2 included 261 patients who were followed for 635.1 person-years. Adjusting for age, sex, baseline CD4 cell count, and drug regimen, compared to Canadian-born non-Aboriginal patients, Canadian-born Aboriginal and foreign-born patients had similar rates of virological failure after achieving initial virological suppression (HR=1.54, 95% CI: 0.38-6.18; HR=0.49, 95% CI: 0.11-2.20, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our study indicated that ART outcomes among Alberta-based foreign-born patients are similar to those among Canadian-born non-Aboriginal patients. Our results, however, suggested that Canadian-born Aboriginal patients had poorer treatment outcomes compared to Canadian-born non-Aboriginal patients. It is imperative, therefore, that clinicians, researchers and community members better understand reasons for poor ART outcomes among Canadian-born Aboriginal patients in northern Alberta. KEY WORDS: Antiretroviral therapy; emigrants and immigrants; HIV-1; treatment outcomes; Canada OBJECTIF: L'epidemie de VIH et de sida frappe demesurement les populations socialement vulnerables. Depuis 2001, la proportion de patients nes a l'etranger servis par le programme de lutte contre le VIH du nord de l'Alberta a augmente. Notre etude visait a evaluer les effets de la therapie antiretrovirale (TAR) dans le nord de l'Alberta, au Canada, chez des patients infectes par le VIH nes a l'etranger auxquels on avait prescrit une dose quotidienne d'antiretroviraux. METHODE: Nous avons utilise une etude de cohorte retrospective en deux volets pour comparer les effets de la TAR chez les patients nes a l'etranger et les patients autochtones nes au Canada et chez les patients non autochtones nes au Canada. Le 1er volet a fait appel a la regression logistique pour comparer la probabilite d'une suppression virale initiale chez les patients nes a l'etranger (40%) et les patients autochtones nes au Canada (27%) et chez les patients non autochtones nes au Canada (33%). Le 2e volet a fait appel a l'analyse de survie pour comparer le taux d'echec de la TAR selon le pays d'origine des patients ayant obtenu une suppression virale initiale durant le 1er volet. RESULTATS: Notre echantillon d'etude comportait 322 patients naifs de traitement (dont 122 nes a l'etranger). Pour le 1er volet, 261 patients ont obtenu une suppression virale initiale moins de six mois apres le debut de la TAR. Compte tenu de l'age, du schema therapeutique, du risque d'exposition au VIH et de l'annee civile, comparativement aux patients non autochtones nes au Canada, la probabilite d'obtenir une suppression virale initiale etait significativement plus faible chez les patients autochtones nes au Canada (RC=0,44, IC de 95%: 0,20-0,96); et similaire a celle des patients nes a l'etranger (RC=0,76, IC de 95%: 0,33-1,73). Le 2e volet incluait 261 patients, suivis sur 635,1 annees-personne. Compte tenu de l'age, du sexe, de la numeration des lymphocytes CD4 au depart et du regime posologique, comparativement aux patients non autochtones nes au Canada, les patients autochtones nes au Canada et les patients nes a l'etranger avaient des taux d'echec virologique similaires apres la suppression virale initiale (indice de risque (IR)=1,54, IC de 95%: 0,38-6,18; IR=0,49, IC de 95%: 0,11-2,20, respectivement). CONCLUSIONS: Notre etude indique que les effets de la TAR chez les patients de l'Alberta nes a l'etranger sont semblables a ceux observes chez les patients non autochtones nes au Canada. Par contre, nos resultats donnent a penser que chez les patients autochtones nes au Canada, les effets du traitement sont moins bons que chez les patients non autochtones nes au Canada. Il est donc imperatif que les cliniciens, les chercheurs et le public comprennent mieux les raisons de l'inefficacite relative de la TAR chez les patients autochtones du nord de l'Alberta nes au Canada. MOTS CLES: therapie antiretrovirale; emigrants et immigrants; VIH-1; effets physiologiques des medicaments; Canada, The HIV/AIDS epidemic disproportionately impacts vulnerable populations. In 2012, persons born in HIV-endemic countries comprised approximately 2.2% of the Canadian population but accounted for 13% of newly diagnosed HIV cases. [...]

The Beijing lineage of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (also referred to as the East Asian lineage or lineage 2) is an emerging public health threat (1,2). The Beijing lineage accounts for 13% [...]

OBJECTIVE: We compared the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal HIV patients after they started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in Edmonton, Alberta and investigated whether clinical status (CD4 cell count and viral load) might explain any observed differences. METHODS: In 2006-2007, eligible patients who started HAART in 1997-2005 completed the MOS-HIV to measure HRQL. Using multiple linear regression models, we compared physical (PHS) and mental (MHS) health summary scores across four groups: Aboriginals infected with HIV via injection drug use (AB/IDUs); Aboriginal non-IDUs (AB/non-IDUs); non- Aboriginal IDUs (non-AB/IDUs); and non-Aboriginal non-IDUs (non-AB/non-IDUs). To assess whether clinical status could explain any observed group differences, we fitted a model adjusting for socio-demographics (age and sex) and years since starting HAART only and then additionally adjusted for current clinical status. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients were eligible (35% Aboriginal, 42% IDU). Adjusting for socio-demographics and years since starting HAART, AB/IDUs (p=0.008), AB/non-IDUs (p=0.002), and non-AB/IDUs (p=0.002) had lower PHS scores than non- AB/non-IDUs. After additionally adjusting for clinical status, these relationships remained significant for AB/non-IDUs (p=0.027) and non-AB/IDUs (p=0.048) but not for AB/IDUs (p=0.12). AB/IDUs and non AB/IDUs tended to have worse MHS scores than non-AB/non-IDUs, but these relationships were not statistically significant and weakened after adjusting for current clinical status. CONCLUSIONS: AB/IDU, AB/non-IDUs, and non-AB/IDUs had significantly poorer physical HRQL than non-AB/non-IDUs. These differences appear to be partially explained by poorer clinical status, especially for AB/IDUs, which suggests that observed inequalities in physical HRQL may be diminished by improving patients' clinical status; for example, through improved adherence to HAART. KEY WORDS: Aboriginal populations; antiretroviral therapy, highly active; intravenous drug users; treatment outcomes; health-related quality of life OBJECTIF : Nous avons compare la qualite de vie liee a la sante (QVLS) de patients autochtones et non autochtones atteints du VIH apres le debut d'une therapie antiretrovirale hautement active (TAHA) a Edmonton (Alberta) et cherche a savoir si leur etat clinique (numeration des lymphocytes CD4 et charge virale) pouvait expliquer les differences observees. METHODE : En 2006-2007, des patients admissibles ayant entame une TAHA en 1997-2005 ont rempli le questionnaire MOS-HIV, qui mesure la QVLS. A l'aide de modeles de regression lineaire multiple, nous avons compare les cotes sommaires de sante physique (CSP) et de sante mentale (CSM) de quatre groupes : les Autochtones infectes par le VIH via l'utilisation de drogues par injection (Aut./UDI); les Autochtones non-UDI (Aut./non-UDI); les non-Autochtones UDI (non-Aut./UDI); et les non-Autochtones non-UDI (non-Aut./non-UDI). Pour determiner si l'etat clinique pouvait expliquer les differences observees entre ces groupes, nous avons adapte un modele en tenant compte des caracteristiques sociodemographiques (age et sexe) et du nombre d'annees depuis le debut de la TAHA seulement, puis en tenant compte, en plus, de l'etat clinique actuel. RESULTATS : Quatre-vingt-seize patients etaient admissibles (35 % d'Autochtones, 42 % d'UDI). Compte tenu des caracteristiques sociodemographiques et du nombre d'annees depuis le debut de la TAHA, les Aut./UDI (p=0,008), les Aut./non-UDI (p=0,002) et les non-Aut./UDI (p=0,002) avaient des cotes CSP inferieures a celles des non-Aut./non-UDI. En tenant aussi compte de l'etat clinique, ces relations demeuraient significatives pour les Aut./non-UDI (p=0,027) et les non-Aut./UDI (p=0,048), mais pas pour les Aut./UDI (p=0,12). Les Aut./UDI et les non-Aut./UDI avaient tendance a presenter des CSM inferieures a celles des non-Aut./non-UDI, mais ces relations n'etaient pas significatives, et elles s'affaiblissaient apres la prise en consideration de l'etat clinique actuel. CONCLUSION : La QVLS physique des Aut./UDI, des Aut./non-UDI et des non-Aut./UDI etait significativement inferieure a celle des non-Aut./non-UDI. Ces differences semblent s'expliquer en partie par un moins bon etat clinique, surtout pour les Aut./UDI, ce qui laisse entendre que les inegalites observees dans la QVLS physique peuvent etre reduites si l'on ameliore l'etat clinique des patients, par exemple en ameliorant l'observance de la TAHA. MOTS CLES : populations autochtones; therapie antiretrovirale hautement active; toxicomanie intraveineuse; resultat therapeutique; qualite de vie liee a la sante, In Canada, Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals infected with HIV do not appear to receive equal benefit from highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). After starting HAART, Aboriginals have been shown to experience [...]

Background. It is largely unknown whether functional recovery following hip fracture differs between long-term care (LTC) and community-dwelling residents. Our primary purpose was to compare recovery between these patients 6 months following hip fracture, controlling for known prognostic factors. Secondarily, we examined the contribution of residential status, in addition to patient characteristics, to functional recovery. Methods. We studied a population-based inception cohort of 451 hip fracture patients [greater than or equal to] 65 years old admitted to one Canadian health region hospital between July 1999 and September 2000. Participants completed the Modified Barthel Functional Index (MBI) in hospital and again via telephone interviews 6 mont lected on surgery and rehabilitation timing, length of hospital stay (LOS). and discharge destination. Relative change from prefracture function adjusting for known prognostic factors, and the proportion of participants ret were compared between the LTC and community-dwelling residents. Results. LTC residents (n = 115) were older, with lower function prefracture, more comorbidities, and increased dementia than community-dwelling residents (n = 336). Six months postfracture, 17 (22%) LTC and 180 (71%) community-dwelling residents had regained prefracture function (p < .001). LTC residents had 33% lower (-40.6, -27.2) and community-dwelling residents 11.6% lower (-14.8, 8.4) 6-month MBI scores relative to prefracture scores alter risk adjustment. Residential status was significantly associated with risk-adjusted functional recovery (p < .001). Median LOS was 4 days less for LTC than for community-dwelling residents (p < .001). Twelve (10%) LTC and 266 (79%) community-dwelling residents were discharged to inpatient rehabilitation (p < .001). Conclusion. Following hip fracture, most LTC residents do not regain prefracture function irrespective of known prognostic factors. Further investigation is needed as to the extent to which personal and environmental characteristics contribute to outcome after hip fracture.

The trends in the attitudes and behaviors of youth in western Uganda are monitored with respect to prevention of HIV/AIDS. The results have shown positive changes in the sexual behavior of secondary school students in western Uganda, thereby declining the HIV prevalence rates among young people from this region.

In many areas of health care, randomized controlled trials (the best evidence regarding the effectiveness of health care interventions) are lacking and decision-makers have to rely on evidence from nonrandomized studies (NRS). We conducted a Medline search to identify English-language articles describing instruments for assessing the quality of NRS of health care interventions. These instruments varied greatly in scope, in the number and types of items and in developmental rigor. Items commonly included were those related to specification of study questions, allocation method, comparability of groups, and blinding of outcome assessment. We do not support the development of a generic scale to evaluate the methodological quality of nonrandomized intervention studies. Instead, further study should be directed to investigate the degree to which, and the circumstances under which, different methodological characteristics are associated with bias. This information will assist researchers in identifying apriori which methodological characteristics need careful evaluation in particular studies. Keywords: systematic reviews, nonrandomized studies, validity

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to compare hip fracture hospitalization rates between a fluoridated and a non-fluoridated community in Alberta, Canada: Edmonton, which has had fluoridated drinking water since 1967, and Calgary, which considered fluoridation in 1991 but is currently revising this decision. Methods. Case subjects were all individuals aged 45 years or older residing in Edmonton or Calgary who were admitted to hospitals in Alberta between January 1, 1981, and December 31, 1987, and who had a discharge diagnosis of hip fracture. Edmonton rates were compared with Calgary rates, with adjustment for age and sex using the Edmonton population as a standard. Results. The hip fracture hospitalization rate for Edmonton from 1981 through 1987 was 2.77 per 1000 person-years. The age-sex standardized rate for Calgary was 2.78 per 1000 person-years. No statistically significant difference was observed in the overall rate, and only minor differences were observed within age and sex subgroups, with the Edmonton rates being higher in males. Conclusions. These findings suggest that fluoridation of drinking water has no impact, neither beneficial nor deleterious, on the risk of hip fracture. (Am J Public Health. 1993;83:689-693), Use of fluoridated drinking water was found to have no effect on the risk of developing hip fractures in a comparison of two Canadian cities. Hospital admissions from 1981 to 1987 with the diagnosis of hip fracture were compared for patients 45 years old or older in Edmonton and Calgary in Alberta. Edmonton's drinking water had been fluoridated since 1967. Calgary did not have fluoridated water. In this comparison, no significant differences were found in the rates of hospitalization for hip fractures between residents of cities with fluoridated draining water and residents of cities without fluoridation. Fluoridation was begun as a means of preventing cavities in children. Later research suggested that fluoride might help prevent osteoporosis. The use of sodium fluoride to treat osteoporosis is an accepted practice but some studies have linked fluoride treatment to an increase in fractures.

Background and Objectives: The need to centralize patients for specialty care in the setting of regionalization may delay access to specialist services and compromise outcomes, particularly in a large geographic area. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of interhospital transferring of children requiring intensive care in a Canadian regionalization model. Methods: A retrospective cohort design with a matched pair analysis was adopted to compare the outcomes in children younger than 17 years admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a Canadian children's hospital by a specialized transport team (pediatric critical care transported [PCCT] group) and those children admitted directly to PICU from its pediatric emergency department (PED group). The outcomes of interest included mortality 72 hours from initial contact with the critical care team (ie, either PICU transport team or intrahospital PICU team). Results: In total, 680 (27%) transports met our inclusion criteria, whereas 866 (7%) cases of 11 570 total PICU admissions were admitted directly from the emergency department. A total of 493 pairs were formed for the matched analyses. Odds of mortality within 72 hours in the PCCT group were significantly higher than in the PED group (odds ratio [OR]: 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-4.45; P = .032). When excluding cases who had at least one episode of cardiac arrest before involvement of the pediatric critical care (PCC) transport team, the OR dropped to 1.66 (95% CI: 0.77-3.46). Conclusions: Children transported from nonpediatric hospitals had a higher 72-hour mortality when compared to those children admitted directly to a children's hospital PICU from its own PED in a Canadian regionalized healthcare model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an interview with L. Duncan Saunders, corresponding author of the paper `Redesigning Local Environmental Health Programs.' Critical for environmental programs to change with time; Imploring to increases the visibility and stature of environmental health practitioners; Importance of local support to environmental health programs.

Community health workers (CHWs) can help to redress the shortages of health human resources needed to scale up antiretroviral treatment (ART). However, the selection of CHWs could influence the effectiveness of a CHW programme. The purpose of this observational study was to assess whether sociodemographic characteristics and geographic proximity to patients of volunteer CHWs were predictors of clinical outcomes in a community-based ART (CBART) programme in Kabarole, Uganda. Data from CHW surveys for 41 CHWs and clinic charts for 185 patients in the CBART programme were analysed using multivariable logistic and Cox regression models. Time to travel to patients was the only statistically significant characteristic of CHWs associated with ART outcomes. Patients whose CHWs had to travel one or more hours had a 71% lower odds of virologic suppression (adjusted OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.13–0.65,p = .002) and a 4.52 times higher mortality hazard rate (adjusted HR = 4.52, 95% CI = 1.20–17.09,p = .026) compared to patients whose CHWs had to travel less than one hour. The findings show that the sociodemographic characteristics of CHWs were not as important as the geographic distance they had to travel to patients. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]