Imbalance of Prevalence and Specialty Care for Osteoarthritis for First Nations People in Canada ...

• Main Authors: Barnabe, Cheryl, Hemmelgarn, Brenda R., Jones, Catherine Allyson, 1959-, Peschken, Christine A., Voaklander, Don, Joseph, Lawrence, Bernatsky, Sasha, 1967-, Esdaile, John, Marshall, Deborah A.
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: The University of British Columbia 2020
• Subjects: First Nations
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0388217; https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0388217

Objective: Estimate the population-based prevalence and healthcare use for osteoarthritis (OA) by First Nations (FN) and non-First Nations (non-FN) in Alberta. Methods: A cohort of adults with OA (≥2 physician claims in 2 years or 1 hospitalization with ICD-9-CM code 715x or ICD-10-CA code M15-19, years 1993-2010) was defined, with FN determination by premium payer status. Prevalence rates (2007/8) were estimated from the cohort and the population registered with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan. Rates of outpatient primary care and specialist (orthopedics, rheumatology, internal medicine) visits; arthroplasty (hip and knee); and all-cause hospitalization were estimated. Results: OA prevalence in FN was twice that of the non-FN population (16.1 vs 7.8 cases/100 population; standardized rate ratio (SRR) adjusted for age and sex 2.06, 95%CI 2.00-2.12). The SRR (adjusted for age, sex and location of residence) for primary care visits for OA was nearly double in FN compared to non-FN (SRR 1.88, 95%CI ...