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IntroductionAlberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP) is the largest population-based prospective cohort study of cancer and chronic diseases in Alberta, Canada. The ATP cohort data were primarily self-reported by participants on lifestyle behaviors and disease risk factors at the enrollment, which lacks sufficient and accurate data on chronic disease diagnosis for longer-term follow-up.
ObjectivesTo characterize the occurrence rate and trend of chronic diseases in the ATP cohort by linking with administrative healthcare data.
MethodsA set of validated algorithms using ICD codes were applied to Alberta Health (AH) administrative data (October 2000-March 2018) linked to the ATP cohort to determine the prevalence and incidence of common chronic diseases.
ResultsThere were 52,770 ATP participants (51.2± 9.4 years old at enrollment and 63.7% females) linked to the AH data with average follow-up of 10.1± 4.4 years. In the ATP cohort, hypertension (18.5%), depression (18.1%), chronic pain (12.8%), osteoarthritis (10.1%) and cardiovascular diseases (8.7%) were the most prevalent chronic conditions. The incidence rates varied across diseases, with the highest rates for hypertension (22.1 per 1000 person-year), osteoarthritis (16.2 per 1000 person-year) and ischemic heart diseases (13.0 per 1000 person-year). All chronic conditions had increased prevalence over time (p <0.001 for trend tests), while incidence rates were relatively stable. The proportion of participants with two or more of these conditions (multi-morbidity) increased from 3.9% in 2001 to 40.3% in 2017.
ConclusionsThis study shows an increasing trend of chronic diseases in the ATP cohort, particularly related to cardiovascular diseases and multi-morbidity. Using administrative health data to monitor chronic diseases for large population-based prospective cohort studies is feasible in Alberta, and our approach could be further applied in a broader research area, including health services research, to enhance research capacity of these population-based studies in Canada.

IntroductionPharmaceutical Information Network (PIN, 2008-now) is a provincial database collecting patients' medication information in Alberta, Canada. Alberta Blue Cross (ABC), the largest health benefit provider in Alberta, has been managing pharmaceutical records for senior patients (65+ years) whose medications are covered by Alberta's government-sponsored health benefit plan since 1970s.
Objectives and ApproachOver 96% of participants in Alberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP), a province-wide cohort study of cancer and chronic diseases in Canada, consented to data linkage to healthcare databases. To cross-validate medication records in the two pharmaceutical databases in Alberta, individual-level data of ATP participants aged 65+ years were cross-linked between PIN and ABC databases (2008-2015) using Personal Health Numbers. Concordant and discordant records were identified by whether or not a specific record co-existed in the two databases. Concordance and discordance (discrepancy) rates, i.e. percentage of concordant or discordant records, were estimated by years and drug types.
ResultsDuring 2008-2015, there were 1,116,176 records collected by PIN, 1,005,548 records collected by ABC, and a total of 1,218,191 records collected by both for 13,413 ATP participants. The average discrepancy rate between PIN and ABC was 25.8%, and the rate was significantly lower for drugs commonly prescribed for health conditions in seniors, including cardiovascular diseases (18.7% for statin), hypertension (18.9% for beta blockers, ace inhibitors and diuretics), diabetes (23.8% for glucose lower drugs), COPD (20.2% for inhalers) and stomach disorders (22.3% for H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors), compared to other drugs (34.4%). For insured drugs, using ABC as reference database, 88.6% of ABC records were concordant with (co-existing in) PIN. The concordance rate for insured drug use was improved by 10% over 2008-2015.
Conclusion/ImplicationsBy cross-linking two pharmaceutical databases in Alberta for senior ATP participants, we found remarkable discrepancies in pharmaceutical records between PIN and ABC, although there was noticeable improvement over the years. The discrepancy rate between PIN and ABC was drug-specific and significantly lower for drugs commonly prescribed in senior patients.

IntroductionAlberta's Tomorrow Project (ATP) is a province-wide cohort study of cancer and chronic diseases in Canada. Approximately 55,000 Albertans aged 35-69 years with no history of cancer, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, had joined the ATP. Nearly all (>96%) ATP participants consented to data linkage to administrative healthcare databases.
Objectives and ApproachTo validate chronic conditions self-reported by the ATP participants, individual-level data of a total of 52,851 ATP participants were linked to Alberta Health (AH) administrative datasets using Personal Health Number. Cases of chronic conditions, including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and gastrointestinal disorders, were identified by algorithms for disease diagnosis using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes in administrative healthcare data. Cases were identified as "prevalent" if the index date of diagnosis was before or within 6 months of ATP enrollment date. Self-reported chronic conditions were validated by the cases identified as "prevalent" using the linked AH datasets.
ResultsAmong the ATP cohort, 804 participants self-reported ever being diagnosed with myocardial infarction (MI), 451 with stroke, 2,907 with diabetes, 566 with ulcerative colitis, 362 with Crohn's disease and 112 with liver cirrhosis before or at the time of ATP enrollment. Using the linked AH administrative data, 339 participants were identified as prevalent cases with MI, 200 with stroke, 2,702 with diabetes, 208 with ulcerative colitis, 283 with Crohn's disease and 55 with liver cirrhosis. The sensitivity and specificity of self-reporting having chronic conditions by the ATP participants were 71.1% and 97.0% for MI, 44.4% and 99.3% for stroke, 78.1% and 98.4% for diabetes, 73.6% and 99.2% for ulcerative colitis, 65.7% and 99.7% for Crohn's disease and 50.9% and 99.8% for liver cirrhosis.
Conclusion/ImplicationsBy linking with administrative healthcare data, we were able to validate the accuracy of self-reporting chronic conditions in ATP participants. The sensitivity of self-reporting was acceptable for MI, diabetes, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, but low for stroke and liver cirrhosis. The specificity was high for all chronic conditions.

Background: Scarce are the studies focusing on initiation of new mental health service use (MHSU) and distinguishing individuals who have sought services but have been unsuccessful in accessing these. Aims: Assessing the factors associated with initiating new MHSU as compared to no MHSU due to self-reported no need, no MHSU due to health system and personal barriers and MHSU using resources already in place. Methods: The sample included participants ( n = 16,435) in the five established regional cohorts of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath) who responded to the CanPath COVID-19 health surveys (May–December 2020 and January–June 2021). Multinomial regression analyses were carried out to study MHSU since the pandemic (March 2020) as a function of predisposing, enabling and need factors. Analyses were carried out in the overall sample and restricted to those with moderate and severe symptoms (MSS) of depression and/or anxiety ( n = 2,237). Results: In individuals with MSS of depression and/or anxiety, 14.4% reported initiating new MHSU, 22.0% had no MHSU due to barriers and personal reasons and 36.7% had no MHSU due to self-reported no need. Age, living alone, lower income, a decrease in income during the pandemic and health professional status were associated with MHSU. Younger adults were more likely to initiate MHSU during the pandemic than older adults who reported not being comfortable to seek mental health care or self-reported no need. Individuals living alone and with lower income were more likely to report not being able to find an appointment for mental health care. Conclusions: Awareness campaigns focusing on older adults that explain the importance of seeking treatment is needed, as well as sensitising health professionals as to the importance of informing and aiding individuals at risk of social isolation and lower socio-economic status as to available mental health resources and facilitating access to care.

ObjectivesWe will enrich the cancer research ecosystem in Canada through linking cancer registry and administrative health data to the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow's Health (CanPath) cohort and biobank. CanPath is Canada's largest population health study, including 1% of the Canadian population, which seeks to investigate cancer development.
ApproachWe are achieving record-level linkage of the CanPath harmonized dataset to provincial cancer registry data, and hospitalization and ambulatory care data from the Canadian Institutes of Health Information (CIHI). The CanPATH harmonized dataset includes comprehensive genetics, environment, lifestyle, and behaviour data. Our linkage activities will result in interprovincial data sharing, with centrally-held linked data, a first in Canadian history. We will demonstrate the CanPath-cancer registry-CIHI linkage potential by investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare utilization and outcomes among those with cancer.
ResultsThe linkage is ongoing and anticipated to be completed by September 2022. Linked data will be made available through the CanPath Data Safe Haven, a cloud-based solution that meets the legal requirements of the data sharing agreements and provincial privacy policies, and is accessible to researchers through secure access. The CanPath Data Safe Haven will be a federated data platform for Canadian researchers to access, analyze, and contribute research in a collaborative environment. By linking these datasets, this project will: address concerns related to accessibility of cancer data in Canada; bring more value to existing data; support an enhanced understanding of the impacts of cancer on marginalized populations; and create a more integrated approach to cancer data access and management.
ConclusionCanPath will be the first program in Canadian history to combine the wealth of cohort resources with cancer registry and administrative health data in a central location at a national scale. We will provide a single point of access for researchers to conduct novel investigations into cancer development and outcomes.