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Biomedical subjects

G H Platt

Publications and source records attributed to G H Platt.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Individuals with a chemical-dependent family member. Does their health care use increase?

OBJECTIVE: To examine health care utilization patterns of individuals who have a chemical-dependent family member (parent, spouse, or child). DESIGN: Morbidity and health care utilization patterns were examined for a 12-month period using the claims administrative data from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP). SETTING: General medical practice specializing in the treatment of addiction disorders. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred seventy-eight (73 male, 205 female) subjects were identified between 1987 and 1990. No members of the subject group were Natives, and none were dependent on chemicals during the study period. A control group, matched for age, sex, and family size, was randomly selected from AHCIP records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and type of health care services and diagnoses listed in health care claims classified using the International Classification of Diseases. RESULTS: In 91% of cases, the chemical-dependent family member was male. Members of the subject group presented more often with mental disorders, digestive system problems, obstetrical problems, injuries, and poorly defined conditions. Also, they were more likely to have nonreferred visits, to have specialist visits, and to use laboratory services than population-matched controls. The subject group's use of specialists and laboratory services amounted to twice the cost of the control group's use of these services. CONCLUSIONS: Results show that individuals who have a chemical-dependent family member use more health care services than the general population. Morbidity among the subject group appears to be similar to that among chemical-dependent individuals; diagnoses related to stress and trauma are common.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Regional variations in the prevalence rates of multiple sclerosis in the province of Alberta, Canada.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence rates were examined for the fiscal years 1984/1985-1988/1989, in the province of Alberta, Canada, by age, sex and census division. Data were derived from the health care records of individuals registered with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan which requires registration by all residents of the province (approximately 2.4 million). The overall crude prevalence rate was 216.7 per 100,000 (173.1 for males; 260.3 for females) population. Females had a significantly higher prevalence (p < 0.05) and the rates were highly correlated between the sexes (r = 0.94, p < 0.01). The present study confirms other studies finding a high prevalence rate within the province of Alberta. The prevalence rate for Alberta is among the highest reported in the world indicating that the province appears to be an excess risk area relative to other global locations. Also, the results indicate that MS is unevenly distributed throughout the province which offers support for the involvement of environmental factors related to the onset of this disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Coronary artery bypass grafting in Alberta from 1984 to 1989.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the geographic and temporal trends in the performance of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in the province of Alberta. This examination was designed to improve understanding of the geographic distribution and temporal changes in the incidence of the procedure. DESIGN: A cohort of all individuals (2.4 million) registered with the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) was followed for the five-year period from April 1, 1984 to March 31, 1989. No new members were admitted to the cohort and an attrition rate averaging 6% per year was observed. SETTING: Data from the claims administrative database of the AHCIP were used. The AHCIP includes the records of all registered residents of the province and is virtually complete. PARTICIPANTS: Participants included all 2963 members of the cohort (2413 males, 550 females) who underwent CABG over the study period. MAIN RESULTS: The overall mean surgical rate was 28.8 per 100,000 (46.7 for males, 10.8 for females; chi 2 = 1172.8, df = 1, P < 0.0001). The mean age at surgery was 59.6 years (57.9 for males, 61.4 for females), with 70 and 76% of procedures occurring between the ages of 60 and 70 years for males and females, respectively. The largest increases in incidence were in males (223%) and females (148%) aged 70 years or older. Both males (chi 2 linearity = 25.95, df = 3, P < 0.01) and females (chi 2 linearity = 8.34, df = 3, P < 0.05) displayed an increasing trend over the study period. Data were aggregated across the five-year study period to assess geographic variations. No difference was noted across census divisions for either sex. CONCLUSIONS: The similarity in rates across census divisions implies consistent use of criteria for the performance of this procedure. Also, the results imply that research, in Alberta, should focus more on indications for the procedure and its outcomes, than on geographic disparities.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Geographic variations in the prevalence rates of Parkinson's disease in Alberta.

Parkinson's disease prevalence rates were examined for the Province of Alberta by age, sex and census division. Using the claims administrative data from the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, a cohort of all registered individuals (2.4 million) was extracted and followed for the five year period, April 1, 1984 to March 31, 1989. No new members were added to the cohort and an attrition rate averaging 6% per year was observed. The overall crude prevalence rates of 248.9 and 239.8 per 100,000 population were noted for males and females respectively. Both sexes were found to have a statistically significant variation across Alberta's 19 census divisions. For males, examination of standardized morbidity ratios found a low risk of Parkinson's disease associated with five census divisions, of which two contained Alberta's two largest cities. An excess risk was associated with four primarily rural census divisions. Females, on the other hand, had a low risk associated with one rural census division and excess risk in four census divisions. The uneven distribution within Alberta offers support for an environmental theory of etiology which may be associated with rural living.

Aged↗