Methods Projects

This population-based study of COVID-19 outpatients in three Canadian provinces, demonstrated that use of systemic corticosteroid therapy as a treatment for COVID-19 was limited during the first year of the pandemic.

This international, multi-center, retrospective cohort, confirmed that the risk of major bleeding associated with direct oral anticoagulants as a class is not increased compared to vitamin K antagonists. Furthermore, the study observed a modest increased risk of major bleeding with rivaroxaban, and a lower risk with apixaban and dabigatran.

SGLT2 inhibitor use was not associated with an increased risk of severe UTI compared to use of DPP-4 inhibitors among patients with type 2 diabetes.

Apixaban is associated with lower risks of ischemic stroke and major bleeding, compared with rivaroxaban, and similar risks of these outcomes when compared with dabigatran. Rivaroxaban is associated with an increased risk of major bleeding and a similar risk of ischemic stroke, when compared with dabigatran.

The incidence of cardiac death and ventricular tachyarrhythmia is very low in postpartum women. Although this potential increased risk is low and could not be confirmed in this large study, it should be discussed when considering treatment options for individual patients.

Methadone is used for the treatment of opioid use disorder and in 2014/2015, most Canadian public drug plans transitioned from a compounded formulation to a more stable pre-mixed formulation. Subsequently, there has been reports that some patients may experience decreased effectiveness with the newer methadone formulation. This project was deemed not feasible.