British Columbia

Domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are the fourth most common species admitted to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) shelter system. However, shelter data analysis has largely focused on cats and dogs and little is known about the population dynamics of rabbits in shelters. We analyzed five years of rabbit records (n = 1567) at the BC SPCA to identify trends in intake and predictors of length of stay (LOS) of rabbits. The majority of rabbits were surrendered by their owners (40...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study characterized chasing behaviour as the time to return to an online gambling website after a losing or a winning visit. METHODS: We analyzed a naturalistic dataset from an eCasino (PlayNow.com, the provincial platform for British Columbia, Canada), comprising 1,909,681 sessions from 15,544 individuals. Analyses distinguished sessions on slot machines, blackjack, roulette, video poker, probability games, or mixed-category sessions. RESULTS: Overall, gamblers on most games returned more slowly as a function of the prior loss, and more quickly as a function of the prior win...

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of e-waste collection and management trends across six Canadian provinces, focusing on e-waste collection rates, provincial stewardship model attributes, program strategies and budget allocations from 2013 to 2020. Temporal and regression analyses were conducted using data from Electronic Product Recycling Association reports. A group characterization based on geographical proximity is proposed, aiming to explore the potential outcomes of fostering collaboration among neighboring provinces...

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine if obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity and/or biomarkers of inflammation/angiogenesis are associated with incident cancer in this clinical cohort. METHODS: Consenting adult patients at the University of British Columbia Hospital between 2003-2014 completed a questionnaire about their medical history and sleep habits prior to undergoing a polysomnogram (PSG). Blood samples were collected the morning after PSG and processed for biomarkers of inflammation and angiogenesis...

Algal blooms can give snowmelt a red color, reducing snow albedo and creating a runaway effect that accelerates snow melting. The occurrence of red snow is predicted to grow in polar and subpolar regions with increasing global temperatures. We hypothesize that these algal blooms affect virus-bacteria interactions in snow, with potential effects on snowmelt dynamics. A genomic analysis of double-stranded DNA virus communities in red and white snow from the Whistler region of British Columbia, Canada, identified 792 putative viruses infecting bacteria...

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics and consequences of falls in individuals using wheelchairs in long-term care settings. DESIGN: Observational analysis of real-world falls in long-term care. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Residents using wheelchairs from 2 long-term care facilities in British Columbia, Canada (n = 32 participants, mean age = 84.7 years, 12 women). METHODS: Two raters used the validated Falls Video Analysis Questionnaire, adapted from the original version, to assess the causal, behavioral, and environmental aspects of falls from wheelchairs...

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) in shellfish products have led to severe risks to human health. To monitor the risk, the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program has been collecting longitudinal PST measurements in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) samples in six coastal provinces of Canada. The spatial distributions of major temporal variation patterns were studied via Functional Principal Component Analysis. Seasonal increases in PST contamination were found to vary the most in terms of magnitude along the coastlines, which provides support for location-specific management of the time-sensitive PST contamination...

BACKGROUND: Addressing complex and interconnected ecological, social, and health issues necessitates upstream, solutions-oriented, and whole-systems thinking. Specifically, exploring what it means to live in reciprocity with the planet and all living systems, now and for generations to come, can have a crucial role in advancing planetary health. METHODS: In this presentation, we show findings from four gatherings that we co-designed and co-hosted to connect communities, lands, waters, climate, and health...

BACKGROUND: People living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) face an increased risk of severe outcomes such as hospitalization or death from COVID-19. COVID-19 vaccination is a vital approach to mitigate the risk and severity of infection in patients with CKD. Limited information exists regarding the factors that shape COVID-19 vaccine uptake, including health information-seeking behavior and perceptions, within the CKD population. OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to describe among CKD patients, (1) health information-seeking behavior on COVID-19, (2) their capacity to comprehend and trust COVID-19 information from different sources, and (3) their perceptions concerning COVID-19 infection and vaccination...

OBJECTIVES: This study examines trends in advance care planning (ACP) awareness, engagement, attitude and experiences among the public in British Columbia (BC), Canada, from 2012 to 2020. This time period is of relevance as it includes provincial education initiatives. We also explored demographic characteristics associated with lower ACP awareness and engagement, to inform future initiatives. METHODS: Longitudinal data from two provincial polls in 2016 and 2020, along with BC-specific data extracted from a national poll in 2012, were analysed to investigate ACP awareness, engagement and attitudes...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to develop a prediction model for urinary tract infection (UTI) after pelvic surgery. METHODS: We utilized data from three tertiary care centers of women undergoing pelvic surgery. The primary outcome was a UTI within 8 weeks of surgery. Additional variables collected included procedural data, severity of prolapse, use of mesh, anti-incontinence surgery, EBL, diabetes, steroid use, estrogen use, postoperative catheter use, PVR, history of recurrent UTI, operative time, comorbidities, and postoperative morbidity including venous thromboembolism, surgical site infection...

OBJECTIVE: To determine the carbon savings potential of incorporating virtual care into surgical care pathways for pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion. METHODS: Pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion were not enrolled, instead, a modeling cohort study design was used. This study utilized the British Columbia healthcare system and geography to model emissions. Care pathways were developed for pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea or otitis media with effusion requiring care at a tertiary pediatric center...

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of trans-epithelial phototherapeutic keratectomy (TE-PTK) as a treatment for recurrent corneal erosion syndrome (RCES) in patients with symptoms refractory to conventional treatments. METHODS: All patients who received TE-PTK treatment for RCES had failed 3 or more conventional treatments and were reviewed, and if met criteria, approved by healthcare workers of the British Columbia public health authority (Medical Services Plan (MSP)...

BACKGROUND: Studies show that more than 5.1 million deaths annually are attributed to nonoptimal temperatures, including extreme cold and extreme heat. However, those studies mostly report average estimates across large geographical areas. The health risks attributed to nonoptimal temperatures in British Columbia (BC) are reported incompletely or limit the study area to urban centers. In this study, we aim to estimate the attributable deaths linked to nonoptimal temperatures in all five regional health authorities (RHAs) of BC from 2001 to 2021...

In British Columbia (BC), there are challenges accessing specialized spinal cord injury care and resources. This paper evaluated the impact of spinal cord injury health educational workshops delivered in regional communities that were informed by persons with lived experience. A community survey was conducted with 44 persons with lived experience in a BC region to identify priority SCI health-related topics. Twenty-five topics were ranked from 1-14, with bowel and bladder management ranked 1 and 4, sexual health ranked 5, and pressure injuries ranked 7...

AIMS: While diagnostic codes from administrative health data might be a valuable source to identify adverse drug events (ADEs), their ability to identify unintended harms remains unclear. We validated claims-based diagnosis codes for ADEs based on events identified in a prospective cohort study and assessed whether key attributes predicted their documentation in administrative data. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of 3 prospective cohorts in British Columbia, from 2008 to 2015 (n = 13 969)...

OBJECTIVES: Understanding who uses internet-based sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) services can inform programme implementation, particularly among those most impacted by STBBIs, including gender and sexual minority (GSM) men. GetCheckedOnline, an internet-based STBBI testing service in British Columbia, Canada, launched in 2014. Our objectives were to assess reach, identify factors associated with use of GetCheckedOnline 5 years into implementation and describe reasons for using and not using GetCheckedOnline among GSM men...

This analysis provides an overview of cardiovascular health among South Asian populations in British Columbia (BC), Canada utilizing peer-reviewed literature, alongside data from public health authorities and relevant jurisdictions. The analysis identified risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) amongst South Asians and discussed preventative public health strategies and interventions to mitigate disease burden. The situational analysis discussed the disproportionate increased risk for CVD in South Asians when compared to other ethnicities in BC, highlighting lifestyle choices, genetic predispositions, socio-economic status (SES), and post-migration-related challenges...

PURPOSE: Second malignancy is a rare but potentially lethal event after prostate brachytherapy, but data remain scarce on its long-term risk. The objective of this study is to estimate the number of pelvic second malignancies following brachytherapy compared to prostatectomy (RP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective review of patients treated with low dose 125 I brachytherapy and prostatectomy in British Columbia from 1999 to 2010. Kaplan Meier (KM) estimates for pelvic (bladder and rectum), invasive pelvic, any second malignancy and death from any second malignancy were assessed...

BACKGROUND: Severe COVID-19 is associated with increased rates of thrombotic complications. Recent provincial recommendations in British Columbia have suggested providing thromboprophylaxis with therapeutic anticoagulation for hospital inpatients with severe COVID-19 who do not have a high risk of bleeding. OBJECTIVES: To characterize the rates of major bleeding, thrombotic events, complications from COVID-19, and adverse effects among patients with severe COVID-19 treated with therapeutic anticoagulation...