Abstract
Objectives
This research examines the feasibility of using electronic medical records within the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network (CPCSSN) for obesity surveillance in Canada by assessing obesity trends over time and comparing BMI distribution estimates from CPCSSN to those obtained from nationally representative surveys.
Methods
Data from 2003–2012 on patients 18 years and older (n = 216,075) were extracted from the CPCSSN database. Patient information included demographics (age and sex) and anthropometric measures (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio). Standard descriptive statistics were used to characterize the sample, including, as appropriate, means, proportions and medians. The BMI distribution of the CPCSSN population was compared to estimates from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) and the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) for the years: 2004, 2007–2009 and 2009–2011.
Results
The estimated prevalence of obesity increased from 17.9% in 2003 to 30.8% in 2012. Obesity class I, II and III prevalence estimates from CPCSSN in 2009–2011 (18.0%, 95% CI: 17.8–18; 7.4%, 95% CI: 7.3–7.6; 4.2%, 95% CI: 4.1–4.3 respectively) were greater than those from the most recent (2009–2011) cycle of the CHMS (16.2%, 95% CI: 14–18.7; 6.3%, 95% CI: 4.6–8.5; 3.7%, 95% CI: 2.8–4.8 respectively), however these differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
The data from CPCSSN present a unique opportunity for longitudinal obesity surveillance among primary care users in Canada, and offer prevalence estimates similar to those obtained from nationally representative survey data.
Key Words: BMI–body mass index, CPCSSN–Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network, EMR–Electronic Medical Record, obesity
Résumé
Objectifs
Nous avons examiné la faisabilité d’utiliser les dossiers médicaux électroniques au sein du Réseau canadien de surveillance sentinelle en soins primaires (RCSSSP) pour la surveillance de l’obésité au Canada en évaluant la progression de l’obésité au fil du temps et en comparant les estimations de répartition de l’IMC du RCSSSP à celles obtenues dans des enquêtes nationales représentatives.
Méthode
Nous avons extrait de la base de données du RCSSSP les données de 2003–2012 sur les patients de 18 ans et plus (n = 216 075). Les renseignements sur les patients étaient leur profil démographique (âge et sexe) et leurs mesures anthropométriques (taille, poids, indice de masse corporelle [IMC], périmètre ombilical et rapport taille-hanches). Des statistiques descriptives types ont servi à caractériser l’échantillon, notamment, le cas échéant, les moyennes, les proportions et les médianes. La répartition de l’IMC dans la population du RCSSSP a été comparée aux estimations de l’Enquête sur la santé dans les collectivités canadiennes (ESCC) et de l’Enquête canadienne sur les mesures de la santé (ECMS) pour les années 2004, 2007–2009 et 2009–2011.
Résultats
La prévalence estimative de l’obésité est passée de 17,9 % en 2003 à 30,8 % en 2012. Les estimations de la prévalence de l’obésité de classe I, II et III dans la population du RCSSSP en 2009–2011 (18 %, IC de 95 %: 17,8–18; 7,4 %, IC de 95 %: 7,3–7,6; 4,2 %, IC de 95 %: 4,1–4,3, respectivement) étaient supérieures à celles du cycle le plus récent (2009–2011) de l’ECMS (16,2 %, IC de 95 %: 14–18,7; 6,3 %, IC de 95 %: 4,6–8,5; 3,7 %, IC de 95 %: 2,8–4,8, respectivement), mais ces différences n’étaient pas significatives.
Conclusion
Les données du RCSSSP offrent une occasion unique de faire une surveillance longitudinale de l’obésité chez les utilisateurs de soins primaires au Canada, et elles donnent des estimations de prévalence semblables à celles obtenues par les données d’enquêtes nationales représentatives.
Mots Clés: indice de masse corporelle (IMC), Réseau canadien de surveillance sentinelle en soins primaires (RCSSSP), dossier médical électronique (DME), obésité
Footnotes
Sources of Funding: Public Health Agency of Canada, Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute.
Conflict of Interest: None to declare
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