Relationships between the Planetary Health Diet Index, its food groups, and polygenic risk of obesity in the CARTaGENE cohort
The researchers investigated the relationship between adherence to the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) and genetic susceptibility to obesity in 7,037 CARTaGENE participants. They found that higher PHDI adherence was negatively associated with BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Genetic susceptibility to obesity was partly mediated by red meat and whole grain intake, with some effects varying by sex and reducing after correction for multiple comparisons.
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.
Investigating Skin Cancer Risk and Sun Safety Practices Among LGBTQ+ Communities in Canada
The researchers conducted a national survey of 700 LGBTQ+ individuals to evaluate skin cancer risk factors, sun-protective behaviors, and related concerns. Some participants were recruited with the help of longitudinal cohorts, notably the Manitoba Tomorrow Project and Atlantic PATH. The researchers found that 60% reported over 10 lifetime sunburns, 58% experienced at least one blistering sunburn, 34% had used tanning beds, and 69% reported having a tan in the last 12 months. Regular sunscreen use was reported by only half of the respondents. These findings emphasize the urgent need for culturally sensitive public health campaigns targeting sun safety practices within the LGBTQ+ community.
Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate relates to cognitive impairment and brain alterations
The researchers investigated the association between estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and cognitive function in 15,897 CARTaGENE participants. They found that lower eGFR was linked to reduced cognitive performance and that brain regions associated with eGFR were enriched in mitochondrial and inflammation-related genes. These associations were independent of age, sex, education, BMI, Framingham risk score, and white matter lesion volume.
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.
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.
A comprehensive analysis of skin cancer concerns and protective practices in Manitoba, Canada, highlights lack of skin cancer awareness and predominance of high-risk sun exposure behaviors
The researchers conducted a cross-sectional survey using data from Manitoba’s Tomorrow Project to examine sun exposure behaviors and attitudes. They found that over 65% of participants reported a history of sunburns, more than 50% had used tanning beds, and fewer than 50% used sunscreen. These findings highlight critical gaps in sun protection practices and awareness, underscoring the urgent need for targeted public health interventions to reduce skin cancer rates.
Education level is associated with the occurrence and timing of hysterectomy: A cohort study of Canadian women
Les chercheurs ont utilisé les données de 30 496 femmes dans le projet Alberta Tomorrow pour déterminer l’association entre le niveau d’éducation et l’occurrence et le moment de l’hystérectomie chez les femmes canadiennes. Ils ont constaté que les femmes ayant un faible niveau d’éducation étaient plus susceptibles de subir une hystérectomie, y compris avant la ménopause et à un âge plus jeune.
Estimating Additive Interaction in Two-Stage Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis.
The researchers aimed to describe how the Relative Excess Risk due to Interaction (RERI) and other measures of additive interaction or effect modification can be validly estimated within two-stage individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis. They proposed a three-step procedure to estimate additive interaction, and illustrate this procedure by investigating interaction between depression and smoking and risk of smoking-related cancers incidence during follow-up, and used IPD of six cohorts, including CARTaGENE.