Metformin use and risk of total joint replacement in patients with diabetes: a longitudinal cohort study of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
The researchers looked into the possibility that people with diabetes who use metformin, a common first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, have a lower risk of total joint replacement (TJR). They looked at 3,001 participants with newly diagnosed diabetes using longitudinal data from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project and used time-varying Cox regression models to assess the association between TJR incidence and metformin dose. The findings indicate a potential protective effect of metformin on joint health, with reduced TJR rates seen among metformin users compared to non-users, despite the fact that the results were not statistically significant. This study offers early data that could guide future investigations into the relationship between musculoskeletal results and diabetes care.
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.
Predictors of primary cutaneous melanoma stage at diagnosis: observations from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
This study examined data from the Alberta’s Tomorrow Project on 62 adults who developed primary cutaneous melanoma by 2018. The majority (67.74%) were diagnosed at stage I, with individual factors like being married or common-law, having an annual household income between $50,000–100,000, and spending more than 1 hour in the sun between 11 am–4 pm per day during the past summer. In contrast, increased occupational physical activity was linked to a higher likelihood of later-stage diagnosis. These findings highlight potential epidemiologic risk factors that could inform targeted interventions for earlier melanoma detection.
Stage shifting by modifying the determinants of breast cancer stage at diagnosis: a simulation study
The researchers sought to understand how lifestyle factors influence the stage at which breast cancer is diagnosed. Using data from 492 participants in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, they found that increasing dietary protein intake and reducing energy intake had the most significant impact. This suggests that minor lifestyle adjustments could potentially increase the rate of early-stage diagnoses by 12%, thereby informing cancer prevention strategies.
Reduced incidence of diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta: A time-segmented longitudinal study of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
Researchers aimed to outline the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on diabetes diagnosis using data from participants who were part of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project. During the COVID-19 pandemic (up to 31 March 2021), the rate of diabetes diagnosis was 32% lower than pre-pandemic levels. The first COVID-19 state of emergency (first wave) was associated with an 87.3% reduction in diabetes diagnoses. This trend continued through the second COVID-19 state of emergency, and no notable increase in diagnoses was observed even after the state of emergency was relaxed. Ultimately, it was found that in Alberta, the COVID-19 public health emergencies had adverse consequences on diabetes diagnoses.
The influence of smoking and occupational risk factors on DNA methylation in the AHRR and F2RL3 genes
The researchers aimed to determine the association between smoking, occupational exposures, and AHRR and F2RL3 methylation, as AHRR and F2RL3 hypomethylation has been associated with lung cancer. A case-control study was implemented with CARTaGENE participants to outline the relationship between AHRR and F2RL3 methylation and lung cancer risk. It was found that in both the AHRR and F2RL3 genes, smoking was associated with lower levels of methylation. The data indicates that smoking and occupational exposures to some agents are associated with AHRR and F2RL3 hypomethylation.
Health-related and psychosocial factors associated with prostate cancer stage at diagnosis among males participating in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
Researchers investigated the factors associated with the stage at which prostate cancer (PCa) is diagnosed among males in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project. They found that a higher number of lifetime prostate-specific antigen tests were linked to earlier-stage PCa, while higher abdominal circumference, lower social support, and having children were associated with later-stage disease.
The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Canada: a time-series study, 2020-2023
This study used data from the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, which includes CanPath data, to track the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the Canadian population over the pre-vaccination period, the vaccine rollout, and the emergence of the Omicron variant. By March 2023, over three-quarters of the population had detectable antibodies, with the most substantial increases seen after the arrival of the Omicron variant. However, variations in immunity by age and geography highlight the importance of tailoring public health policies and clinical decisions to local patterns of population immunity, considering factors like potential antibody decline and the emergence of new variants that might evade immunity.
Nonfasting remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk prediction in Albertans: a prospective cohort study
This study aimed to assess the relationship between nonfasting remnant cholesterol and cardiovascular disease (CVD) using data from 13,988 Alberta’s Tomorrow Project participants. The researchers found that nonfasting remnant cholesterol was positively associated with CVD incidence, whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was negatively associated with it.
Development and external validation of partial proportional odds risk prediction models for cancer stage at diagnosis among males and females in Canada
This study examined health patterns in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project participants before cancer diagnosis to find factors related to cancers caught early versus late. The researchers found factors then tested them in a similar group from the British Columbia Generations Project.