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Forbes SM, Schwartz N, Fu SH, Hobin E, Smith BT. The association between off- and on-premise alcohol outlet density and 100% alcohol-attributable emergency department visits by neighbourhood-level socioeconomic status in Ontario, Canada. Health Place 2024; 89:103284. [PMID: 38875963 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Alcohol availability is positively associated with alcohol use and harms, but the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) on these associations is not well established. This population-based cross-sectional study examined neighbourhood-level associations between physical alcohol availability (measured as off- and on-premise alcohol outlet density) and 100% alcohol-attributable emergency department (ED) visits by neighbourhood SES in Ontario, Canada from 2017 to 2019 (n = 19,740). A Bayesian spatial modelling approach was used to assess associations and account for spatial autocorrelation, which produced risk ratios (RRs) and 95% credible intervals (95% CrI). Each additional off-premise alcohol outlet in a neighbourhood was associated with a 3% increased risk of alcohol-attributable ED visits in both men (RR = 1.03, 95%CrI: 1.02-1.04) and women (RR = 1.03, 95% CrI: 1.02-1.04). Positive associations were also observed between on-premise alcohol outlet density and alcohol-attributable ED visits, although effect sizes were small. A disproportionately greater association with ED visits was observed with increasing alcohol outlet density in the lowest compared to higher SES neighbourhoods. Reducing physical alcohol availability may be an important policy lever for reducing alcohol harm and alcohol-attributable health inequities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha M Forbes
- Public Health Ontario, 661 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1M1.
| | - Naomi Schwartz
- Public Health Ontario, 661 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1M1.
| | - Sze Hang Fu
- Public Health Ontario, 661 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1M1.
| | - Erin Hobin
- Public Health Ontario, 661 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1M1; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 1 55 College St, Toronto, Canada, M5T 3M7.
| | - Brendan T Smith
- Public Health Ontario, 661 University Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1M1; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 1 55 College St, Toronto, Canada, M5T 3M7.
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Myran DT, Friesen E, Talarico R, Gaudreault A, Taljaard M, Hobin E, Smith BT, Schwartz N, Giesbrecht N, Crépault JF, Tanuseputro P, Manuel DG. The association between alcohol retail access and health care visits attributable to alcohol for individuals with and without a history of alcohol-related health-care use. Addiction 2024. [PMID: 38804474 DOI: 10.1111/add.16566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Alcohol retail access is associated with alcohol use and related harms. This study measured whether this association differs for people with and without heavy and disordered patterns of alcohol use. DESIGN The study used a repeated cross-sectional analysis of health administrative databases. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS/CASES All residents of Ontario, Canada aged 10-105 years with universal health coverage (n = 10 677 604 in 2013) were included in the analysis. MEASUREMENTS Quarterly rates of emergency department (ED) and outpatient visits attributable to alcohol in 464 geographic regions between 2013 and 2019 were measured. Quarterly off-premises alcohol retail access scores were calculated (average drive to the closest seven stores) for each geographic region. Mixed-effect linear regression models adjusted for area-level socio-demographic covariates were used to examine associations between deciles of alcohol retail access and health-care visits attributable to alcohol. Stratified analyses were run for individuals with and without prior alcohol-attributable health-care use in the past 2 years. FINDINGS We included 437 707 ED visits and 505 271 outpatient visits attributable to alcohol. After adjustment, rates of ED visits were 39% higher [rate ratio (RR) = 1.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.20-1.61] and rates of outpatient visits were 49% higher (RR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.26-1.75) in the highest versus lowest decile of alcohol access. There was a positive association between alcohol access and outpatient visits attributable to alcohol for individuals without prior health-care attributable to alcohol (RR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.39-1.95 for the highest to lowest decile of alcohol access) but not for individuals with prior health-care attributable to alcohol (RR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.90-1.30). There was a positive association between alcohol access and ED visits attributable to alcohol for individuals with and without prior health-care for alcohol for ED visits. CONCLUSION In Ontario, Canada, greater alcohol retail access appears to be associated with higher rates of emergency department (ED) and outpatient health-care visits attributable to alcohol. Individuals without prior health-care for alcohol may be more susceptible to greater alcohol retail access for outpatient but not ED visits attributable to alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erik Friesen
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert Talarico
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Adrienne Gaudreault
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Monica Taljaard
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erin Hobin
- Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brendan T Smith
- Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Naomi Schwartz
- Health Promotion, Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Norman Giesbrecht
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jean-François Crépault
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Douglas G Manuel
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Legleye S, Khlat M, Aubin HJ, Bricard D. Adolescent Hazardous Drinking and Socioeconomic Status in France: Insights Into the Alcohol Harm Paradox. J Adolesc Health 2024; 74:458-465. [PMID: 38069928 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2023.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The "alcohol harm paradox" has been evidenced among adults, but it is still largely unexplored among adolescents. We examined in a sample of French adolescents the relation between family socioeconomic status (SES), family living arrangement and parental substance use on 1 hand, and heavy episodic drinking (HED), lifetime alcohol-induced emergency room visits (A-ERV), and number of alcoholic drinks and solitary drinking during the last episode on the other hand. METHODS A cross-sectional nationwide survey in March 2017 involved 13,314 French adolescents aged 17-18.5 years. They completed a pen and paper questionnaire about their own and their parents' alcohol and tobacco consumption. We used risk ratios (RRs) from modified Poisson regressions to assess the relationships. RESULTS Adolescents from the lowest SES had reduced likelihood of reporting 1-2 or 3-5 episodes of heavy drinking compared to those from the highest SES (RR = 0.58, 95% confidence interval = [0.50; 0.66] and 0.35 [0.27; 0.45]), but no difference for six or more episodes (RR = 0.81 [0.59; 1.12]). A-ERV was more frequent among lowest SES adolescents (RR = 1.86 [1.05; 3.30]), possibly due to drinking larger quantities of alcohol and to more frequent solitary drinking in their last episode (p < .001). SES, parental substance use, and family living arrangement were independently associated with HED. DISCUSSION Our findings reveal an "alcohol harm paradox" in late adolescence in France. Lower SES adolescents exhibit reduced HED but were more likely to consume large quantities alone and experience A-ERV. This emphasizes the significance of considering social determinants in alcohol-related research and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Legleye
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif, France; Centre de Recherche en Économie et Statistique (CREST), Rennes, France.
| | - Myriam Khlat
- Institut national d'études démographiques (INED), Aubervilliers, France
| | - Henri-Jean Aubin
- Université Paris-Saclay, Inserm, CESP, Villejuif, France; AP-HP, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Damien Bricard
- Institut de recherche et documentation en économie de la santé (Irdes), Paris, France
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Uslin V, Hällberg V, Lukkarinen T, Niskanen M, Koivistoinen T, Palomäki A. A four-way patient search method for the retrospective identification of poisoning patients. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1801. [PMID: 38245593 PMCID: PMC10799932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52358-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
When studying emergency department (ED) visits, electronic health record systems of hospitals provide a good basis for retrospective studies. However, many intoxication patients presenting to the ED, may not be identified retrospectively if only a single search method is applied. In this study, a new four-way combined patient search method was used to retrospectively identify intoxication patients presenting to the ED. The search included reason for admission to the ED, laboratory results related to intoxication diagnostics, ICD-10 codes, and a novel free word search (FWS) of patient records. After the automated search, the researcher read the medical records of potential substance abuse patients to form comprehensive profiles and remove irrelevant cases. The addition of a free word search identified 36% more substance abuse patients than the combination of the other three methods mentioned above. Patients identified by the FWS search alone were generally admitted to the ED for trauma or mental health problems and were often found to be heavily under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The main intoxicants were ethanol and benzodiazepines. The free word search was highly complementary to traditional patient search methods, highlighting the importance of the combined patient search method in retrospective data collection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Uslin
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20072, Milan, Italy.
- Emergency Department, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, 13530, Hämeenlinna, Finland.
| | - Ville Hällberg
- Emergency Department, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, 13530, Hämeenlinna, Finland
| | - Timo Lukkarinen
- City of Helsinki, Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division, 00100, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Teemu Koivistoinen
- Emergency Department, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, 13530, Hämeenlinna, Finland
| | - Ari Palomäki
- Emergency Department, Kanta-Häme Central Hospital, 13530, Hämeenlinna, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, 33520, Tampere, Finland
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Friesen EL, Mataruga A, Nickel N, Kurdyak P, Bolton JM. Outcomes in Clinical Subgroups of Patients With Alcohol-Related Hospitalizations. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2353971. [PMID: 38294814 PMCID: PMC10831574 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.53971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Alcohol-related hospitalizations are common and associated with significant cost to the health care system. We have a limited understanding of the characteristics of individuals who experience alcohol-related hospitalizations, which limits our capacity to prioritize those at the highest risk of postdischarge harm. Objective To identify and characterize the clinical subgroups of individuals who are hospitalized for alcohol-related harms. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study used latent class analysis (LCA) to identify clinical subgroups of individuals experiencing alcohol-related hospitalizations in 2 provinces in Canada. All individuals between ages 10 and 105 years who were hospitalized for an alcohol-related harm between January 2017 and December 2018 (ie, the index hospitalization) were eligible. Data were analyzed between June 2023 and August 2023. Exposures The exposure of interest was the clinical subgroup that an individual belonged to. These subgroups were identified using an LCA based on (1) the characteristics of the index hospitalization and (2) the history of alcohol-related health service use. Main Outcomes and Measures In-hospital mortality, alcohol-related hospital readmission, and all-cause mortality in the year following discharge from the index hospitalization. The association between subgroup membership and the risk of in-hospital and postdischarge outcomes was evaluated using multivariable regression. Results A total of 34 043 individuals were included in analysis, 4753 from Manitoba (median [IQR] age, 49 [40-58] years; 1786 female [37.6%]) and 29 290 from Ontario (median [IQR] age, 57 [45-67] years; 8527 female [29.1%]). Seven subgroups were identified following a gradient from low-frequency service use for acute intoxication to high-frequency service use for severe alcohol use disorder and liver disease. In Ontario, there were 4431 individuals in the liver disease subgroup representing 15.5% of the cohort who were at the highest risk of 1-year mortality (1382 [31.2%]) relative to the acute intoxication subgroup (42 [4.0%]) (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.83; 95% CI, 2.80-5.24). There was also a small subgroup (10.6%) of individuals with high-frequency alcohol-related health service use who had a much higher hazard of readmission following the index hospitalization (1-year readmission: 703 of 1526 [46.1%] vs 104 of 1058 [9.8%] in the acute intoxication subgroup; aHR, 5.09; 95% CI, 4.11-6.31). Conclusions and Relevance In this population-based cohort study of individuals experiencing alcohol-related hospitalizations, we identified several small, clinically distinct subgroups that were at a disproportionately high risk of readmission and mortality. These groups could merit prioritization in strategies aimed at reducing the risk of adverse outcomes following alcohol-related hospitalizations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik L. Friesen
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mental Health and Addictions Research Program, ICES Central, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Andrea Mataruga
- Mental Health and Addictions Research Program, ICES Central, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nathan Nickel
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Mental Health and Addictions Research Program, ICES Central, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - James M. Bolton
- Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Duncan R, Stewart K, Scheuermeyer FX, Abu-Laban RB, Ho K, Lavallee D, Christenson J, Wood N, Bryan S, Hedden L. Concordance between 8-1-1 HealthLink BC Emergency iDoctor-in-assistance (HEiDi) virtual physician advice and subsequent health service utilization for callers to a nurse-managed provincial health information telephone service. BMC Health Serv Res 2023; 23:1031. [PMID: 37759257 PMCID: PMC10523598 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-023-09821-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND British Columbia 8-1-1 callers who are advised by a nurse to seek urgent medical care can be referred to virtual physicians (VPs) for supplemental assessment and advice. Prior research indicates callers' subsequent health service use may diverge from VP advice. We sought to 1) estimate concordance between VP advice and subsequent health service use, and 2) identify factors associated with concordance to understand potential drivers of discordant cases. METHODS We linked relevant provincial administrative databases to obtain inpatient, outpatient, and emergency service use by callers. We developed operational definitions of concordance collaboratively with researcher, patient, VP, and management perspectives. We used Kaplan-Meier curves to describe health service use post-VP consultation and Cox regression to estimate the association of caller factors (rurality, demography, attachment to primary care) and call factors (reason, triage level, time of day) with concordance as hazard ratios. RESULTS We analyzed 17,188 calls from November 16, 2020 to April 30, 2021. Callers advised to attend an emergency department (ED) immediately were the most concordant (73%) while concordance was lowest for those advised to seek Family Physician (FP) care either immediately (41%) or within 7 days (47%). Callers unattached to FPs were less likely to schedule an FP visit (hazard ratio = 0.76 [95%CI: 0.68-0.85]). Rural callers were less likely to attend an ED within 48 h when advised to go immediately (0.53 [95%CI:0.46-0.61]) compared to urban callers. Rural callers advised to see an FP, either immediately (1.28 [95%CI:1.01-1.62]) or within 7 days (1.23 [95%CI: 1.11-1.37]), were more likely to do so than urban callers. INTERPRETATION Concordance between VP advice and subsequent caller health service use varies substantially by category of advice and caller rurality. Concordance with advice to "Go to ED" is high overall but to access primary care is below 50%, suggesting potential issues with timely access to FP care. Future research from a patient/caller centered perspective may reveal additional barriers and facilitators to concordance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Duncan
- Michael Smith Health Research British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
- BC Emergency Medicine Network, Vancouver, Canada.
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
| | - Kurtis Stewart
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Frank X Scheuermeyer
- BC Emergency Medicine Network, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Riyad B Abu-Laban
- BC Emergency Medicine Network, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kendall Ho
- BC Emergency Medicine Network, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Danielle Lavallee
- Michael Smith Health Research British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jim Christenson
- BC Emergency Medicine Network, Vancouver, Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nancy Wood
- BC Emergency Medicine Network, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Stirling Bryan
- Michael Smith Health Research British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lindsay Hedden
- Michael Smith Health Research British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada
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Myran D, Friesen EL, Pugliese M, Milani C, Kurdyak P, Saraswat M, Tanuseputro P. Changes in health service use due to alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic among individuals with and individuals without pre-existing alcohol-related medical diagnoses. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE 2023; 114:185-194. [PMID: 36719599 PMCID: PMC9888341 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-023-00739-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare changes in outpatient and acute care visits due to alcohol during the COVID-19 pandemic between individuals with and those without a history of alcohol-related health service use (AHSU). METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of health administrative data in Ontario, Canada. The Ontario population was stratified into those with and those without 1+ health service encounter(s) due to alcohol in the past 2 years. We compared age- and sex-standardized rates of alcohol-related outpatient visits, emergency department (ED) visits, and hospitalizations during the first 15 months of the pandemic (March 2020-May 2021) to those during the same 15-month period prior to the pandemic (March 2018-May 2019). RESULTS Of 13,450,750 eligible Ontarians on March 11, 2022, 129,434 (1.0%) had AHSU in the previous 2 years. Overall, rates of alcohol-related outpatient visits and hospitalizations increased, while rates of alcohol-related ED visits decreased during the pandemic. There was a similar relative increase in rates of alcohol-related outpatient visits and hospitalizations between those with and those without prior AHSU. However, the absolute increase in rates of alcohol-related outpatient visits and hospitalizations was higher among those with prior AHSU (outpatient rate difference (RD) per 10,000 population: 852.3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 792.7, 911.9; inpatient RD: 26.0, 95% CI: -2.3, 54.2) than among those without (outpatient RD: 6.5, 95% CI: 6.0, 6.9; inpatient RD: 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.7). CONCLUSION Rates of alcohol-related outpatient and inpatient care increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and high rate of recurrent harm among individuals with pre-pandemic AHSU was an important contributor to this trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Myran
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Erik Loewen Friesen
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael Pugliese
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christina Milani
- Division of Palliative Care, Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- ICES Mental Health & Addictions Research Program, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Manu Saraswat
- Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Tanuseputro
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- ICES uOttawa, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Division of Palliative Care, Bruyere Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Friesen EL, Staykov E, Myran DT. Understanding the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and grocery store alcohol sales following market liberalization in Ontario, Canada. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH = REVUE CANADIENNE DE SANTE PUBLIQUE 2023; 114:254-263. [PMID: 36214995 PMCID: PMC10036712 DOI: 10.17269/s41997-022-00694-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES In 2015, Ontario partially deregulated alcohol sales by allowing grocery stores to sell alcohol. The purpose of this study was to evaluate (1) whether neighbourhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) impacted the likelihood that a grocery store began selling alcohol, and (2) whether increases in alcohol retail availability following deregulation differed between neighbourhoods based on SES. METHODS This was a repeated cross-sectional analysis of 1062 grocery stores in 17,096 neighbourhoods in urban Ontario. The association between neighbourhood-level SES and whether a grocery store began selling alcohol was modeled using mixed effect logistic regression. The annual change in drive-distance from a neighbourhood to the closest off-premise alcohol outlet between 2015 and 2020 was modeled using mixed effect linear regression. An interaction between time and SES was included to evaluate whether this change differed between neighbourhoods based on SES. RESULTS Grocery stores in neighbourhoods in the lowest SES quintile were 39% less likely to start selling alcohol than grocery stores in neighbourhoods in the highest SES quintile (odds ratio (OR): 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.39-0.94). As grocery store sales expanded, the distance to the closest off-premise alcohol outlet decreased by 51.8 m annually (95% CI: 48.8-54.9, p < 0.01). A significant interaction between year and SES was observed whereby this trend was more pronounced in high- versus low-SES neighbourhoods. CONCLUSION The expansion of grocery store alcohol sales increased alcohol availability, but this increase was proportionately larger in high- versus low-SES neighbourhoods. This reduced historic disparities in alcohol availability between low- and high-SES neighbourhoods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Loewen Friesen
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Emiliyan Staykov
- Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Daniel Thomas Myran
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Friesen EL, Yu W, Buajitti E, Selby P, Rosella L, Kurdyak P. Clarifying rural-urban disparities in alcohol-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations in Ontario, Canada: A spatial analysis. J Rural Health 2023; 39:223-232. [PMID: 35866637 DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Rates of alcohol-related harm are higher in rural versus urban Canada. This study characterized the spatial distribution and regional determinants of alcohol-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in Ontario to better understand this rural-urban disparity. METHODS This was a cross-sectional spatial analysis of rates of alcohol-related ED visits and hospitalizations by Ministry of Health subregion (n = 76) in Ontario, Canada between 2016 and 2019. Regional hot- and cold-spots of alcohol-related harm were identified using spatial autocorrelation methods. Rurality was measured as the population weighted geographic remoteness of a subregion. The associations between rurality and rates of alcohol-related ED visits and hospitalizations were evaluated using hierarchical Bayesian spatial regression models. FINDINGS Rates of alcohol-related ED visits and hospitalizations varied substantially between subregions, with high rates clustering in Northern Ontario. Overall, increasing rurality was associated with higher subregion-level rates of alcohol-related ED visits (males adjusted relative rate [aRR]: 1.67, 95% credible interval [CI]: 1.49-1.87; females aRR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.60-1.98) and hospitalizations (males aRR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.24-1.45; females aRR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.45-1.74). However, after the province was separated into Northern and Southern strata, this association only held in Northern subregions. In contrast, increasing rurality was associated with lower rates of alcohol-related ED visits in Southern subregions (males aRR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.79-0.96; females aRR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81-0.97). CONCLUSIONS There are regional differences in the association between rurality and alcohol-related health service use. This regional variation should be considered when developing health policies to minimize geographic disparities in alcohol-related harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Loewen Friesen
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Emmalin Buajitti
- ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter Selby
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Laura Rosella
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,ICES, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Davis CN, O’Neill SE. Treatment of Alcohol Use Problems Among Rural Populations: a Review of Barriers and Considerations for Increasing Access to Quality Care. CURRENT ADDICTION REPORTS 2022; 9:432-444. [DOI: 10.1007/s40429-022-00454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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11
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Goh P, Md Amir Ali LAB, Ou Yong D, Ong G, Quek J, Banu H, Wu JT, Mak CCM, Mao DR. Why Are Some Male Alcohol Misuse Disorder Patients High Utilisers of Emergency Health Services? An Asian Qualitative Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10795. [PMID: 36078521 PMCID: PMC9518548 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191710795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Certain alcohol misuse patients heavily utilise the Emergency Department (ED) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and may present with intoxication or long-term sequelae of alcohol misuse. Our study explored reasons for repeated ED/EMS utilisation and sought to understand perpetuating and protective factors for drinking. METHODS Face-to-face semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted. Participants were recruited from an ED in Singapore. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and underwent manual thematic analysis. Emergent themes were independently reviewed for agreement. Data from medical records, interview transcripts, and field notes were triangulated for analysis. RESULTS All participants were male (n = 20) with an average age of 55.6 years (SD = 8.86). Most were unemployed (75%), did not have tertiary education (75%), were divorced (55%), and had pre-existing psychiatric conditions (60%) and chronic cardiovascular conditions (75%). Reasons for utilisation included a perceived need due to symptoms, although sometimes it was bystanders who called the ambulance. ED/EMS was preferred due to the perceived higher quality and speed of care. Persistent drinking was attributed to social and environmental factors, and as a coping mechanism for stressors. Rehabilitation programs and meaningful activities reduced drinking tendencies. CONCLUSION ED/EMS provide sought-after services for alcohol misuse patients, resulting in high utilisation. Social and medical intervention could improve drinking behaviours and decrease overall ED/EMS utilisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Goh
- Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore 698928, Singapore
| | | | - Donovan Ou Yong
- Emergency Department, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore 308433, Singapore
| | - Gabriel Ong
- Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore 698928, Singapore
| | - Jane Quek
- Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore 698928, Singapore
| | - Halitha Banu
- Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore 698928, Singapore
| | - Jun Tian Wu
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Charles Chia Meng Mak
- National Addictions Management Service, Institute of Mental Health, Singapore 539747, Singapore
| | - Desmond Renhao Mao
- Acute & Emergency Care Department, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore 768828, Singapore
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