The WHO endorsed the Emergency Medical Team (EMT) Minimum Data Set (MDS) as a real-time data collection and reporting tool during health emergencies and disasters in 2017. It was for the first time activated in 2019 during Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. Since then, it has been used in 16 countries during various events. However, no assessment on data quality collected via MDS has been conducted.

This study aimed to assess data completeness using data from Cyclone Idai.

We analyzed 282 daily reports containing 18,468 patient consultations from 14 international EMTs between 2019/03/27 and 2019/07/12. We considered data incomplete if inputs for demographic information, health events, outcomes, and relation to disaster were lower than the total number of patient consultations. We calculated the percentage of missing values for MDS items. Logistic regression identified associations between data incompleteness and EMT type.

Completeness of information on team and location was 100%. Incompleteness rates were 7.1% for sex and age, 37.2% for health events, 48.9% for outcomes, and 41.8% for the relation of health events to the disaster. Type 1 Fixed EMTs reported less complete data compared to Type 1 Mobile and Type 2 EMTs. Classified EMTs were more likely to report complete data.

Overall, MDS daily report completeness needs improvement. Type 1 Fixed EMTs may have lower completeness due to busier schedules, while Type 1 Mobile EMTs benefit from more effective just-in-time training. Type 2 teams, being less busy, achieve more accurate data entry. Training for data collection is essential for better data completeness.

The demanding nature of the EMT members’ work in providing care for the affected population in the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula, Japan, on January 1, 2024 is noted.

This study aims to examine the relationship between fatigue and the presenteeism of EMT members during this disaster.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1st to March 31st using the J-SPEED (Japanese-Surveillance in Post-Extreme Emergencies and Disasters) health check-up among EMT members. The questionnaire items included fatigue level and presenteeism measured using WFun-D (Work Functioning Impairment Scale for disaster), along with information on the type of activity, occupation, duration of working (days), and symptoms due to fatigue. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the association between fatigue and presenteeism of EMT members.

Among the 20,551 cases, 66.2% worked in the field, with the majority being operation coordinators (31.8%), nurses (30.9%), and medical doctors (19.9%). Presenteeism is strongly associated with having medium and high fatigue levels (p<0.0001). Other factors associated with presenteeism in EMT members included: working in January (aOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 1.21-3.74), being a medical doctor (aOR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.15-2.04) or administrative supporter (aOR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.28-3.36), experiencing symptoms due to stress (aOR: 4.95, 95% CI: 3.80-6.46).

The study reveals a significant relationship between increasing fatigue levels and presenteeism among EMT members. These findings contribute to evidence-based strategies for fatigue management in disaster response scenarios, with implications for improving the effectiveness of medical response efforts in future large-scale disasters globally.

Vitamin D is crucial for normal organ function, vascular health and exercise performance, yet its deficiency is widespread. Patients with CHD often exhibit reduced exercise capacity. Limited research exists on vitamin D in CHD.

This study investigates serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels in 55 adult CHD patients (median age 31 years) compared to 55 age- and gender-matched controls without cardiac disease and examines associations with exercise capacity, peripheral microvascular function, muscle strength and biventricular function in CHD. Therefore, patients underwent fingertip arterial tonometry, transthoracic echocardiography, muscle strength measurements and cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

Results indicated that 93% of CHD patients and 91% of controls had 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels <30 ng/ml, with both groups showing varying values depending on the season in which the studies were conducted. No significant difference in 25-hydroxy vitamin D levels was found between patients and controls. While vitamin D levels in CHD patients did not significantly correlate with age, body mass index, blood pressure, peripheral microvascular function, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, cholesterol levels, N-terminal-pro hormone B-type natriuretic peptide, ventricular function or muscle strength, a significant correlation was found with percent-predicted peak oxygen consumption (ρ=0.41, p = 0.005 and ρ=0.34, p = 0.02 for reference values following Wasserman and the LowLands registry, respectively), even after adjusting for season (p = 0.03 and 0.05, respectively).

In conclusion, vitamin D levels were similar between CHD patients and controls, but vitamin D insufficiency is common and linked to reduced exercise capacity in CHD. Further research is needed to determine whether vitamin D supplementation combined with exercise could be beneficial in CHD with vitamin D insufficiency.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and clinical impact of utilizing low-field portable MRI in a remote setting in Canada.

This was a single-site prospective cohort study. An ultra-low-field (0.064 T) portable MRI was installed in Weeneebayko General Hospital, Moose Factory, Ontario. Adults presenting with any indication for neuroimaging between November 2021 and June 2023 were eligible for study inclusion. Clinical presentation, indication for imaging,and radiology report turnaround time were recorded. Images were evaluated for diagnostic quality, and radiology reports were analyzed to determine the diagnostic utility of ultra-low-field MRI.

An ultra-low-field portable MRI was successfully installed in a remote Canadian location. Fifty patients received a portable MRI scan. Comments on suboptimal image quality were made for 12 (24%) of the portable MRI examinations; however, only 2 (4%) of these were deemed nondiagnostic requiring conventional imaging for further evaluation. Clinically significant pathology was identified in 5 (10%) of the examinations.

This first-of-its-kind study demonstrates the application of ultra-low-field portable MRI in a remote setting in Canada is feasible and offers clinical information that may help triage which patients require transfer to a center with conventional high-field MRI availability.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a leading genetic cause of infant death and represents a significant burden of care. An improved understanding of the epidemiology of SMA in Canada may help inform strategies to improve the standard of care for individuals living with SMA.

We employed a multisource approach to estimate the minimal incidence and prevalence of 5q SMA and to gain greater insight into recent clinical practices and treatment trends for the Canadian SMA population. Data sources included the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program (CPSP), Canadian Neuromuscular Disease Registry (CNDR), and molecular genetics laboratories in Canada.

The estimated annual minimum incidence of 5q SMA was 4.38, 3.44, and 7.99 cases per 100,000 live births in 2020 and 2021, based on CPSP, CNDR, and molecular genetics laboratories data, respectively, representing approximately 1 in 21,472 births (range 12,516–29,070) in Canada. SMA prevalence was estimated to be 0.85 per 100,000 persons aged 0–79 years. Delay in diagnosis exists across all SMA subtypes. Most common presenting symptoms were delayed milestones, hypotonia, and muscle weakness. Nusinersen was the most common disease-modifying treatment received. Most patients utilized multidisciplinary clinics for management of SMA.

This study provides data on the annual minimum incidence of pediatric 5q SMA in Canada. Recent therapeutic advances and newborn screening have the potential to drastically alter the natural history of SMA. Findings underline the importance of ongoing surveillance of the epidemiology and long-term health outcomes of SMA in the Canadian population.