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.
The mediating role of health behaviors in the association between depression, anxiety and cancer incidence: An individual participant data meta-analysis
Researchers investigated how various health behaviors might mediate the relationships between depression, anxiety, and the onset of different types of cancer. They conducted individual participant data meta-analyses using participants from 18 cohorts from the Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence consortium.The cohorts analyzed included the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health, Ontario Health Study, and CARTaGENE. The findings suggested that smoking serves as a mediating factor that connects depression and anxiety with lung cancer and other cancers related to smoking.
The association between religiosity, spirituality and colorectal cancer screening: a longitudinal analysis of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project in Canada
The researchers performed a longitudinal analysis regarding associations between religion/spirituality (RS) Salience, and R/S Attendance, and colorectal cancer screening. The data of 4312 participants aged ≥ 50 from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project was used for this study. After completing statistical analyses, the researchers determined a significant association between R/S Attendance and colorectal cancer screening. However, R/S Salience did not contribute to higher odds of colorectal cancer screening, as the association was not statistically significant. The authors of the study propose the implementation of colorectal cancer screening programs in R/S settings.
Differences in antihypertensive medication prescription profiles between 2009 and 2021: a retrospective cohort study of CARTaGENE
Researchers examined the differences in antihypertensive medication prescription profiles in the province of Quebec between 2009 and 2021. Data from the CARTaGENE population–based cohort was used. The study found that application of hypertension guidelines for the choice of antihypertensive drugs remains suboptimal, underscoring the importance of educational initiatives.
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.
Dose-responsive effects of iron supplementation on the gut microbiota in middle-aged women
The researchers sought to investigate the association between iron supplementation and the gut microbiota among healthy female participants in Alberta’s Tomorrow Project. They found that adequate iron levels are essential for the overall health and wellbeing of women through their various life stages.
Age- and sex-specific associations of frailty with mortality and healthcare utilization in community-dwelling adults from Ontario, Canada
The researchers sought to estimate the association of frailty with the risk of death, hospital admissions, and length of hospital stay. Using data from the Ontario Health Study linked to all-cause mortality and hospital admissions data from ICES, they found that frailty is an important health construct for both younger and older adults.
A test to comprehensively capture the known genetic component of familial pulmonary fibrosis
The study aimed to develop a laboratory-developed test (LDT) based on standard Sanger sequencing to capture all known familial pulmonary fibrosis-associated variants. The new genetic test was evaluated in 62 sporadic cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It was found that the MUC5B promoter variant rs35705950 was strongly enriched in these patients, with a minor allele frequency of 41.1%, compared with 10.6% in a matched population-based cohort from CARTaGENE.
Microbial features linked to medication strategies in cardiometabolic disease management
Researchers explored the association of microbial structure with the use of single or multiple medications among participants from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project who were diagnosed with cardiometabolic disease. Forty-six associations were identified between microbial composition and single medications. Findings indicated that both single- and multiple medication use in cardiometabolic disease is associated with decreases in bacterial diversity, species, and microbial functional potential.