Purpose

To describe trends in the aggressiveness of end-of-life (EOL) cancer care in a universal health care system in Ontario, Canada, between 1993 and 2004, and to compare with findings reported in the United States.

Methods

A population-based, retrospective, cohort study that used administrative data linked to registry data. Aggressiveness of EOL care was defined as the occurrence of at least one of the following indicators: last dose of chemotherapy received within 14 days of death; more than one emergency department (ED) visit within 30 days of death; more than one hospitalization within 30 days of death; or at least one intensive care unit (ICU) admission within 30 days of death.

Results

Among 227,161 patients, 22.4% experienced at least one incident of potentially aggressive EOL cancer care. Multivariable analyses showed that with each successive year, patients were significantly more likely to encounter some aggressive intervention (odds ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.02). Multiple emergency department (ED) visits, ICU admissions, and chemotherapy use increased significantly over time, whereas multiple hospital admissions declined (P < .05). Patients were more likely to receive aggressive EOL care if they were men, were younger, lived in rural regions, had a higher level of comorbidity, or had breast, lung, or hematologic malignancies. Chemotherapy and ICU utilization were lower in Ontario than in the United States.

Conclusion

Aggressiveness of cancer care near the EOL is increasing over time in Ontario, Canada, although overall rates were lower than in the United States. Health system characteristics and patient or physician cultural factors may play a role in the observed differences.

Abstract

Objective

To determine the sociodemographic factors associated with cervical cancer screening and follow-up of abnormal results.

Design

Population cohort study.

Setting

Ontario.

Participants

Women between the ages of 18 and 70 years who were eligible for Papanicolaou testing.

Main outcome measures

Rates of cervical cancer screening and follow-up of abnormal and inadequate Pap test results, and associated sociodemographic factors such as age, neighbourhood income level, and health region. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with screening and follow-up.

Results

Of the 3.7 million women eligible for screening, 69% had had Pap tests in the past 3 years. These rates varied by age, income, and region (P < .001). Women residing in the lowest-income neighbourhoods were half as likely to be screened (odds ratio 0.56, 95% CI 0.55 to 0.56). Only 44% of those whose Pap test results revealed atypical squamous cells of uncertain significance or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions had repeat Pap tests or colposcopy within 6 months, and this varied by age, income, and region (P < .001). Among women with unsatisfactory Pap test results, only 35% were retested within 4 months, and this varied by age (P < .001).

Conclusion

Despite universal health coverage, cervical cancer screening rates are suboptimal among low-income women at greatest risk. Follow-up among women with inadequate or abnormal test results is often poor. Novel models of cervical cancer screening are needed to address these inadequacies.

BACKGROUND:

Despite evidence supporting the role of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in diverse populations, few publications describe how NIV is used in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVE:

To describe NIV initiation in a teaching hospital that has a guideline, and to characterize temporal changes in NIV initiation over time.

METHODS:

A prospective, observational study of continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (CPAP) or bilevel NIV initiation from January 2000 to December 2005 was conducted. Registered respiratory therapists completed a one-page data collection form at NIV initiation.

RESULTS:

Over a six-year period, NIV was initiated in 623 unique patients (531 bilevel NIV, 92 CPAP). Compared with bilevel NIV, CPAP was initiated more often using a nasal interface, with a machine owned by the patient, and for chronic conditions, especially obstructive sleep apnea. Whereas CPAP was frequently initiated and continued on the wards, bilevel NIV was most frequently initiated and continued in the emergency department, intensive care unit and the coronary care unit. Patients initiated on bilevel NIV were more likely to be female (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.85; P=0.02) and to have an acute indication compared with CPAP initiations (OR 7.5, 95% CI 1.61 to 34.41; P=0.01). Bilevel NIV was initiated more often in the emergency department than in the intensive care unit (OR 5.8, 95% CI 0.89 to 38.17; P=0.07). Bilevel NIV initiation increased from 2000 to 2005.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present study illustrates how NIV is used in clinical practice and confirms that NIV initiation has increased over time.

Background

Preoperative diagnosis of breast cancer is a standard of care. We conducted a population-based study to determine the factors associated with the use of percutaneous needle biopsy to diagnose breast cancer in Ontario.

Methods

We identified a total of 3644 women who underwent breast tissue sampling (percutaneous needle biopsy or surgical excision) that yielded a diagnosis of cancer between Apr. 1, 2002, and Dec. 31, 2002, and for whom we were able to obtain complete data. We performed univariate and multivariate analyses to examine the association between a number of variables and the use of percutaneous biopsy or surgery for diagnosis and the performance of biopsy with or without image guidance. The variables were age, local health integration network (LHIN), income quintile, urban or rural residence, access to a primary care provider, prior mammogram, prior regular screening mammography, screen-initiated biopsy, and surgeon and radiologist specialization in breast disease.

Results

A total of 2374 women (65%) underwent percutaneous biopsy to diagnose breast cancer. The use of percutaneous biopsy varied from 22% to 81% among LHINs. On multivariate analysis, no patient variables were associated with the use of percutaneous biopsy for diagnosis. Only the LHIN and surgeon and radiologist specialization were predictive of whether a woman received a percutaneous biopsy. These 2 variables, along with income quintile and screen-initiated biopsy, were associated with the use of image-guided biopsy as the method of choice.

Conclusion

Geographic variation in the use of percutaneous biopsy, particularly image-guided biopsy, for the diagnosis of breast cancer exists across Ontario. The frequency of such biopsies may be a useful quality indicator. Strategies to improve uptake of organized evidence-based care may increase the use of percutaneous biopsy.