Congratulations to Dr. Daniel Stevens, Dr. Pantelis Andreou and Dr. Daniel Rainham on their publication on environmental correlates of physical activity, sedentary behaviour and self-rated health in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention. https://bit.ly/2Vi6FvO
We’re happy to share a new article from Dr. Vanessa DeClercq & Dr. Ellen Sweeney on the age- & sex-specific associations in health risk factors for chronic disease in the Atlantic PATH cohort. They found that there are evident differences in health risk factors for males and for females, as well as across age groups, and public health efforts need to account for the role played by sex and age in addressing chronic disease burden in Canadian adults. https://bit.ly/36UxHMx
Title: Age and Sex-Specific Associations in Health Risk Factors for Chronic Disease: Evidence from the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (PATH) Cohort Journal: Canadian Journal on Aging Authors: Vanessa DeClercq and Ellen Sweeney Abstract: The objective of this study was to discern health risk factors for chronic disease by age and sex in a Canadian cohort. Participants of the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (PATH) cohort with health risk factor data (physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, body mass index [BMI]) were included (n = 16,165). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to evaluate the relationship among health risk factors, age, and sex. Regression analysis revealed that the odds of engaging in high levels of physical activity and having a BMI ≥ 25 was lower for females than males across all age groups, whereas the odds of abdominal obesity was substantially higher for females of all ages than for males. The odds of habitually consuming alcohol was lower for females of all ages than for males, and the odds of being a former/current smoker was lower for older (57–74 years of age) females than for males. The odds of consuming five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day was higher for females of all ages than for males. There are evident differences in health risk factors for males and for females, as well as across age groups, and public health efforts need to account for the role played by sex and age in addressing chronic disease burden in Canadian adults.
We are pleased to announce the latest in our research on Atlantic PATH shift workers! Sweeney et al. (2021) evaluated the relationship between mental health and shift work in a matched study with 12,413 participants, including 4155 shift workers and 8258 non-shift workers. Shift workers were more likely to have increased rates of depression and poor self-rated health, as well as depressive and anxiety symptom scores compared to non-shift workers. The full article can be found free for 50 days compliments of Elsevier – https://authors.elsevier.com/a/1dMIjKt2p%7EjIi This research builds on our previous work that found an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes among shift workers, despite higher levels of physical activity and lower levels of sedentary behaviour (https://bit.ly/2TJEoxN).
Journal: Preventive Medicine Authors: Ellen Sweeney, Yunsong Cui, Zhijie Michael Yu, Trevor JB Dummer, Vanessa DeClercq, Cynthia Forbes, Scott A Grandy, Melanie R Keats, Anil Adisesh Abstract We evaluated the relationship between mental health and shift work in the Atlantic Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (PATH) cohort study. In a matched study with 12,413 participants, including 4155 shift workers and 8258 non-shift workers, we utilized general linear models and logistic regression models to assess the differences in depression, anxiety, and self-rated health. Shift workers reported higher levels of each of the mental health-related domains compared to non-shift workers. There was a significant increased risk of depression (OR = 1.13, 95% CI, 1.00–1.27) and poor self-rated health (OR = 1.13, 95% CI, 1.14–1.55) among shift workers compared to non-shift workers. Shift workers were more likely to have increased rates of depression and poor self-rated health, as well as depressive and anxiety symptom scores compared to non-shift workers. As a result, shift workers may be at increased risk of comorbidity, poor quality of life, missed work, and early retirement. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106697
Initial preliminary results from the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow’s Health (CanPath) COVID-19 Antibody Study, based on close to 6,000 dried blood spot samples collected between February 8 and May 17, 2021, show a high degree of variability in the level of antibodies produced by a single dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. These findings highlight the importance of accelerating second doses as the Delta variant continues to spread, particularly with the vast majority of Canadians having received only a single vaccine dose. This is the first pan-Canadian study using samples from a wide range of participants to confirm evidence from vaccine manufacturers’ clinical trials, as well as findings in a recent preprint from the United Kingdom and other smaller studies. Participants from Atlantic PATH, CARTaGENE, the Ontario Health Study, Manitoba Tomorrow Project, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project, and BC Generations contributed to the COVID-19 Antibody Study. https://bit.ly/3gVLeb2
Atlantic PATH is thrilled to be involved in the newly funded project led by Dr. Juliet Daniel at McMaster University. The New Frontiers in Research Fund 2020 Exploration grants target high-risk, high-reward and interdisciplinary research. This work will focus on disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes in a Black Nova Scotian community (Shelburne, Nova Scotia). This research is truly interdisciplinary, incorporating natural and social sciences to consider the role of environmental, biological, genetic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors with the high cancer incidence and mortality in this community. We’re pleased to be working with our Dalhousie University colleagues, Dr. Ingrid Waldron (School of Nursing), Dr. Jong Sung Kim (Faculty of Medicine), Dr. Paola Marignani (Faculty of Medicine) and Dr. Charles Hostovsky (School of Planning). https://bit.ly/3fHw3CU
CanPath has developed a Student Dataset that provides students the unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with CanPath data. The CanPath Student Dataset is a synthetic dataset that was manipulated to mimic CanPath’s nationally harmonized data but does not include or reveal actual data of any CanPath participants. The CanPath Student Dataset is available to instructors at a Canadian university or college for use in an academic course, at no cost. CanPath will provide the Student Dataset and a supporting data dictionary. Advantages of the CanPath Student Dataset: Large sample size (Over 40,000 participants) Real-world population-level Canadian data Variety of areas of information allowing for a wide range of research topics No cost to faculty Potential for students to apply for real CanPath data to publish their findings For additional details, please see: https://canpath.ca/student-dataset/
Atlantic PATH’s Scientific Director, Jason Hicks was recently interviewed by CBC PEI about research with our data holdings and CanPath’s timely move into COVID-19 research. https://bit.ly/33l8vNj
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Robin Urquhart has been named the new Scientific Director of Atlantic PATH. Dr. Urquhart is an Associate Professor, the Canadian Cancer Society Endowed Chair in Population Cancer Research in the Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, and a Senior Scientist with the Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute and the Nova Scotia Lead for the Terry Fox Research Institute Marathon of Hope Cancer Centres Network. “I’m thrilled and excited to take on this role,” says Dr. Urquhart. “Because of my involvement with Atlantic-wide initiatives around cancer research, I see this as a great opportunity to bring people and resources together and build our leadership and capacity in the region.” We look forward to working with Dr. Urquhart and welcome her to the Atlantic PATH team!