Distribution of disease burden and healthcare resource utilization associated with diabetes and cardiovascular conditions in New Brunswick
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Date
2025-06-16
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
New Brunswick Institute for Research, Data and Training
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to quantify real-world geographic and sociodemographic variability in cardiovascular and diabetes disease burden and associated healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in New Brunswick (NB). It is anticipated that the results will inform the development of targeted interventions aimed at improving care and health outcomes in the communities and populations with the greatest needs.
Study overview and methods
Linked, population-level administrative data were used to examine the following indicators of disease burden and HCRU among NB’s adult population (age 18+) annually for fiscal years 2014-2018, as well as during more recent fiscal years where data permitted:
• Disease prevalence (acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and multimorbidity)
• Mortality (all-cause and cardiovascular/diabetes-related; among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients)
• Emergency department visit and hospital admission rates (all-cause and cardiovascular/diabetes-related; among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients)
• Physician visit rates (any physician, general practitioner, cardiologist, endocrinologist; all-cause among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients)
• Rate of physician service utilization for chronic disease management of diabetes (among overall and diabetic population)
• Frequency and results of hemoglobin A1c testing (among overall and diabetic population)
• Rate of participation in the NB Insulin Pump Program
• Usage rate of the Tele-Care 811 provincial health line (among overall population and cardiovascular/diabetes patients)
Indicators were reported annually at the provincial level, stratified geographically by dividing the province into 33 smaller regions based on NB Health Council Community (NBHCC) boundaries, and stratified by the following personal characteristics:
Age, social assistance use, immigration status (including recent immigration, and country of origin and language fluency among recent immigrants), rurality, attachment to primary care provider, household composition, travel distance to nearest healthcare center, long-term care client status, household income, material deprivation, and English/French language preference.
Distribution of personal characteristics at the provincial level and by NBHCC was also reported. All stratifications were cross-tabulated by sex.