Covert vascular brain injury and cognitive dysfunction among Chinese adults living in Canada and China
The researchers examined how country of residence influences covert cerebrovascular disease (VBI) and cognitive dysfunction among Chinese adults living in Canada and China. The study compared Chinese adults in Canada and China. They found that people in Canada had a lower prevalence of covert VBI and cognitive dysfunction than those living in China, even though both groups shared the same ethnicity. Living in China was associated with a much higher risk of covert VBI and lower cognitive function, although the link between cognitive dysfunction and country of residence was explained by education and traditional cerebrovascular risk factors, such as blood pressure and cholesterol.
Healthcare costs associated with receipt of effective mental healthcare coverage in individuals with moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety and depression.
The researchers assessed the factors and healthcare costs associated with effective mental healthcare coverage (EMHC) for anxiety and depression using data from 720 participants in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. They found that only 26.7% of participants received EMHC, defined as adequate pharmacotherapy and/or psychotherapy. Individuals reporting worsening self-rated mental health after the pandemic compared to before were less likely to receive EMHC. Lifetime diagnoses of anxiety and depression increased the likelihood of receiving EMHC. Adjusted total healthcare costs attributable to EMHC were $2601. These findings underscore unmet mental health needs during the pandemic and highlight the need for policies to ensure timely access to EMHC.
Association of lifetime lactation and characteristics of menopause: a longitudinal cohort study
The researchers used survey data on 19,783 parous women aged 40 to 65 years at enrollment in the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project to investigate the association between lifetime duration of lactation and the timing and type of menopause in midlife women. They found that in a dose-response manner, longer lactation was associated with reduced risk of natural menopause before age 50, surgical menopause before age 55, and indeterminate menopause before age 50. Longer lactation was associated with lower odds of surgical and indeterminate menopause, compared to natural menopause.
Exposure to air pollutants and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis measured by magnetic resonance imaging: A cross-sectional analysis
The researchers examined how long-term exposure to air pollution affects early signs of heart disease. They used data to explore whether low levels of air pollutants are linked to the thickening of artery walls. The study included 6,645 adults from five Canadian provinces and estimated their exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ozone (O₃), and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) over several years. Using MRI scans to measure carotid artery wall thickness, the researchers found mixed results. Higher levels of ozone were linked to thicker artery walls, suggesting a potential negative effect, while higher nitrogen dioxide levels were associated with thinner artery walls, a finding that requires further investigation.
Unilateral Oophorectomy and Age at Natural Menopause: A Longitudinal Community-Based Cohort Study.
The researchers investigated the impact of unilateral oophorectomy (UO) on the age of natural menopause using data from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project. They found that UO was linked to an earlier age at natural menopause, with the strongest effect seen in women who had UO between ages 20-40. These findings highlight that UO, particularly before the age of 40, increases the risk of earlier natural menopause.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Healthcare Utilization in People with Diabetes: A Time-Segmented Longitudinal Study of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
The objective is to characterize the impact of COVID-19 on major healthcare for diabetes, including hospitalization, emergency department (ED) visits and primary care visits in Alberta, Canada. Participants from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) with pre-existing diabetes prior to 1 April 2018 were included and followed up to 31 March 2021. The declared COVID-19 states of emergency had a negative impact on healthcare utilization for people with diabetes, especially for hospital and ED services, which suggests the importance of enhancing the capacity of these two healthcare sectors during future COVID-19-like public health emergencies.
Education level is associated with the occurrence and timing of hysterectomy: A cohort study of Canadian women
The researchers used data of 30 496 females in the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project to determine the association between level of educational attainment and the occurrence and timing of hysterectomy in Canadian women. They found that women with lower levels of education were more likely to experience hysterectomy, including hysterectomy before menopause and at younger ages.
Association of parity with the timing and type of menopause: A longitudinal cohort study
The study aimed to determine the time-varying association between parity and timing of natural menopause, surgical menopause, and premenopausal hysterectomy among 23,728 women aged 40-65 years at enrollment in the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project cohort study. The researchers found that overall, natural menopause was most common, then premenopausal hysterectomy and surgical menopause. The risk of natural menopause before age 50 was higher for women with 0 or 1 birth, while the risk was similar for those with 3 or more births compared to those with 2 births. Elevated risks of surgical menopause before age 45 for women with 0 or 1 birth were reduced after excluding those with a history of infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss, and the risk decreased over time for women with 3 or more births. Additionally, the risk of premenopausal hysterectomy before age 50 was lower for women with 0 births but increased after age 40 for those with 3 or more births.
Risk factors for early-onset colorectal cancer: A Canadian prospective cohort study
Researchers aimed to determine associations between specific risk factors and early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC). Accordingly, the researchers utilized data from 127,852 healthy study participants who were less than 50 years of age and were either part of the Ontario Health Study cohort or the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project cohort. Ninety-eight cases of eoCRC were identified after an average follow-up of 6.63 years. Analyses indicated that a family history of CRC alone or with a history of other cancer types was associated with a heightened risk of developing eoCRC. However, there was no significant association between eoCRC and a family history of solely non-CRC cancer. Those classified as heavy smokers at baseline had a higher risk of eoCRC compared to non-smokers. Lastly, there were no significant associations between sex, socioeconomic factors, diabetes, alcohol consumption, and other factors with the risk of eoCRC.
Neighbourhood walkability and greenspace and their associations with health-related fitness in urban dwelling Canadian adults
The researchers aimed to outline sex-specific associations between the neighborhood built environment, grip strength, and body fat percentage of Canadian adults living in urban areas. They used cohort data from 4,052 males and 7,841 females who were part of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project. Negative associations were found between walkability and both grip strength and body fat percentage among males and females. Additionally, greenness showed a positive association with grip strength across both sexes, but this association was not observed with body fat percentage. These associations remained significant even after adjusting for physical activity and sitting.