BackgroundTens of thousands of cardiac and vascular surgeries (CaVS) are performed on seniors in Canada and the United Kingdom each year to improve survival, relieve disease symptoms, and improve health-related quality of life (HRQL). However, chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP), undetected or delayed detection of hemodynamic compromise, complications, and related poor functional status are major problems for substantial numbers of patients during the recovery process. To tackle this problem, we aim to refine and test the effectiveness of an eHealth-enabled service delivery intervention, TecHnology-Enabled remote monitoring and Self-MAnagemenT—VIsion for patient EmpoWerment following Cardiac and VasculaR surgery (THE SMArTVIEW, CoVeRed), which combines remote monitoring, education, and self-management training to optimize recovery outcomes and experience of seniors undergoing CaVS in Canada and the United Kingdom.ObjectiveOur objectives are to (1) refine SMArTVIEW via high-fidelity user testing and (2) examine the effectiveness of SMArTVIEW via a randomized controlled trial (RCT).MethodsCaVS patients and clinicians will engage in two cycles of focus groups and usability testing at each site; feedback will be elicited about expectations and experience of SMArTVIEW, in context. The data will be used to refine the SMArTVIEW eHealth delivery program. Upon transfer to the surgical ward (ie, post-intensive care unit [ICU]), 256 CaVS patients will be reassessed postoperatively and randomly allocated via an interactive Web randomization system to the intervention group or usual care. The SMArTVIEW intervention will run from surgical ward day 2 until 8 weeks following surgery. Outcome assessments will occur on postoperative day 30; at week 8; and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. The primary outcome is worst postop pain intensity upon movement in the previous 24 hours (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form), averaged across the previous 14 days. Secondary outcomes include a composite of postoperative complications related to hemodynamic compromise—death, myocardial infarction, and nonfatal stroke— all-cause mortality and surgical site infections, functional status (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12), depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale), health service utilization-related costs (health service utilization data from the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences data repository), and patient-level cost of recovery (Ambulatory Home Care Record). A linear mixed model will be used to assess the effects of the intervention on the primary outcome, with an a priori contrast of weekly average worst pain intensity upon movement to evaluate the primary endpoint of pain at 8 weeks postoperation. We will also examine the incremental cost of the intervention compared to usual care using a regression model to estimate the difference in expected health care costs between groups.ResultsStudy start-up is underway and usability testing is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2016.ConclusionsGiven our experience, dedicated industry partners, an...

Background The purpose of this study was to describe 1st incident fractures of the upper extremity in terms of fracture characteristics, demographics, social deprivation and comorbid health profiles. Methods:Cases with a 1st adult upper extremity fracture from the years 2013 to 2017 were extracted from administrative data in Ontario, (population 14.3M). Fracture locations (ICD-10 codes) and associated characteristics (open/closed, associated hospitalization within 1-day, associated nerve or tendon injury) were described by fracture type, age category and sex. Fracture comorbidity characteristics were described in terms of the prevalence of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis; and the Charlson Comorbidity Index. Social marginalization was expressed using the Ontario Marginalization Index (ON-Marg) for material deprivation, dependency, residential instability, ethnic concentration. ResultsFrom 266,324 first incident UE fractures occurring over 4 years, 51.5% were in women and 48.5% were in men. This masked large differences in age-sex profiles. Most commonly affected were the hand (93K), wrist/forearm(80K), shoulder (48K) or elbow (35K). The highest number of fractures: distal radius (DRF, 47.4K), metacarpal (30.4K), phalangeal (29.9K), distal phalangeal (24.4K), proximal humerus (PHF, 21.7K), clavicle (15.1K), radial head (13.9K), and scaphoid fractures (13.2K). The most prevalent multiple fractures included: multiple radius and ulna fractures (11.8K), fractures occurring in multiple regions of the upper extremity (8.7K), or multiple regions in the forearm (8.4K). Fractures most common in 18 – 40-year-old men included metacarpal and finger fractures. A large increase in fractures in women over the age of 50 occurred for: DRF, PHF and radial head. Tendon (0.6% overall; 8.2% in multiple finger fractures) or nerve injuries (0.3% overall, 1.5% in distal humerus) were rarely reported. Fractures were open in 4.7%, highest for distal phalanx (23%). Diabetes occurred in 15.3%, highest in PHF (29.7%). Rheumatoid arthritis occurred more commonly in women (2.8% vs 0.8% men). The Charlson Index indicated low comorbidity (mean=0.2; median=0: 2.4% 3+), highest in PHF (median=0; 6.6% 3+). Higher fracture burden was related to instability (excess of fractures in lower 2 quartiles 4.8%), although social indices varied by fracture type. ConclusionsFracture specific prevention strategies should consider fracture-specific age-sex interactions, health, behavioural and social risks