Dolphin
Senior Member (Voting Rights)
Start on page 174
BC MEDICAL JOURNAL VOL. 67 NO. 5 | JUNE 2025
Health outcomes of patients in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program
New approaches and research are urgently needed to improve therapeutic interventions for patients with complex chronic diseases.
CLINICAL: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Emily Meagher, MPH, Tianna Magel, MSc, Travis Boulter, Carola Muñoz, Nicole Prestley, Wee-Shian Chan, MD, FRCPC, Cassandra Bryden, Luis Nacul, MD, PhD
ABSTRACT
Background:
Complex chronic diseases affect almost 3% of Canadians and lead to persistent, debilitating symptoms. The BC Ministry of Health funded the Complex Chronic Diseases Program to address service gaps for affected individuals. We evaluated health outcomes of the program’s patients.
Methods:
Analysis of data from the Complex Chronic Diseases Program Data Registry (June 2017–September 2022) focused on patient reported outcomes and clinical measures at baseline, 6-month follow-up, and discharge, and on changes in symptoms across these time points.
Results:
Among the 668 participants included in the study, slight improvements in overall physical and mental health were observed between baseline and discharge. However, symptoms such as sleep dysfunction, fatigue, and pain showed no significant changes.
Conclusions:
While participation in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program yielded some health benefits, further research and interventions are required to address symptoms and optimize patient outcomes. The further development and use of objective outcome markers are needed for improved program evaluation.
Ms Meagher and Ms Magel were research assistants at the Women’s Health Research Institute, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, at the time of writing. Mr Boulter is a research coordinator at the Women’s Health Research Institute. Ms Muñoz is a research manager at the Women’s Health Research Institute. Mrs Prestley is a research and knowledge translation manager at the Women’s Health Research Institute. Dr Chan is an investigator at BC Children’s Hospital; head of the Department of Medicine, BC Women’s obstetric medicine lead, BC Women’s; and a clinical professor in the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia. Ms Bryden was an occupational therapist in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program at BC Women’s at the time of writing. Dr Nacul is a clinical scientist at the Women’s Health Research Institute; a clinical associate professor in the Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, UBC; and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Clinical Research, CureME, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Corresponding author: Ms Emily Meagher, emily.meagher@cw.bc.ca. This article has been peer reviewed.
BC MEDICAL JOURNAL VOL. 67 NO. 5 | JUNE 2025
Health outcomes of patients in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program
New approaches and research are urgently needed to improve therapeutic interventions for patients with complex chronic diseases.
CLINICAL: ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Emily Meagher, MPH, Tianna Magel, MSc, Travis Boulter, Carola Muñoz, Nicole Prestley, Wee-Shian Chan, MD, FRCPC, Cassandra Bryden, Luis Nacul, MD, PhD
ABSTRACT
Background:
Complex chronic diseases affect almost 3% of Canadians and lead to persistent, debilitating symptoms. The BC Ministry of Health funded the Complex Chronic Diseases Program to address service gaps for affected individuals. We evaluated health outcomes of the program’s patients.
Methods:
Analysis of data from the Complex Chronic Diseases Program Data Registry (June 2017–September 2022) focused on patient reported outcomes and clinical measures at baseline, 6-month follow-up, and discharge, and on changes in symptoms across these time points.
Results:
Among the 668 participants included in the study, slight improvements in overall physical and mental health were observed between baseline and discharge. However, symptoms such as sleep dysfunction, fatigue, and pain showed no significant changes.
Conclusions:
While participation in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program yielded some health benefits, further research and interventions are required to address symptoms and optimize patient outcomes. The further development and use of objective outcome markers are needed for improved program evaluation.
Ms Meagher and Ms Magel were research assistants at the Women’s Health Research Institute, BC Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, at the time of writing. Mr Boulter is a research coordinator at the Women’s Health Research Institute. Ms Muñoz is a research manager at the Women’s Health Research Institute. Mrs Prestley is a research and knowledge translation manager at the Women’s Health Research Institute. Dr Chan is an investigator at BC Children’s Hospital; head of the Department of Medicine, BC Women’s obstetric medicine lead, BC Women’s; and a clinical professor in the Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia. Ms Bryden was an occupational therapist in the Complex Chronic Diseases Program at BC Women’s at the time of writing. Dr Nacul is a clinical scientist at the Women’s Health Research Institute; a clinical associate professor in the Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine, UBC; and a clinical associate professor in the Department of Clinical Research, CureME, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Corresponding author: Ms Emily Meagher, emily.meagher@cw.bc.ca. This article has been peer reviewed.
