The Evidence Speaks Series is a recurring feature highlighting the latest in Advancing Health research. This series features summaries of select publications and is designed to keep media and the research community up to date with the Centre’s current research results in the health outcomes field.
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Improved detection and person-centred care needed for substance-induced mental disorders
Mohebbian M, Schütz CG, Kassam R, Kazanjian A, Puyat JH. Incidence, prevalence and determinants of substance-induced mental disorders in British Columbia, 2022-2023: a population-based study. Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci. 2026;35:e45.
Substance-induced mental disorders (SIMDs), such as substance-induced depressive and neurocognitive disorders, can occur after just one exposure to a substance, such as a drug, tobacco, or alcohol. Advancing Health scientist Dr. Joseph Puyat sought to understand the prevalence, incidence, and risk factors associated with SIMDs in BC; incidence referring to new cases of SIMD within the study period and prevalence referring to total number of existing cases. Accessing de-identified, administrative health data of BC residents aged 12 and older from January 2022 to December 2023, the researchers identified prevalence and incidence rates of 172 and 78 SIMD cases per 10,000 population, respectively. Both rates were higher in males, compared with females, which is consistent with previous evidence that substance use disorders (SUDs) are more common among men. Regional variation was also noted, with higher incidence and prevalence of SIMDs in the Northern and Vancouver Island Health Authorities. On average, people with SIMD visited health care facilities 3.2–3.6 times a month compared with around 3.8 visits per year in the general population, with stimulant-related SIMD being associated with the highest rates of hospitalisation and involuntary treatment. Only around one-third of prevalent and one-fifth of incident cases also had SUD. Overall, the findings of this research demonstrate how common SIMDs are and that the majority of cases are among individuals without SUD, highlighting the need for improved detection of, and care for, people experiencing them.
Removal of both fallopian tubes can reduce ovarian cancer risk among the general population
Bahrami F, McLeod J, Pearce CL, Kushi LH, Garcia C, Yong PJ, De Vera MA, McAlpine JN, Gamez JNB, Tischer KM, Huntsman D, Hanley GE. Effectiveness of opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy in preventing epithelial ovarian cancer: a population-based study. J Natl Cancer Inst. Published online July 29, 2026.
Ovarian cancer prevention procedures have long been recommended for women at high risk of the disease (e.g., with BRCA1 or BRCA2 genetic variants). More recently, prevention strategies are also being recommended for the general population, who make up around 80% of all cases of the most common ovarian cancer type, high-grade serous carcinoma. For women undergoing procedures like a hysterectomy or tubal ligation (surgery that provides permanent contraception), health care providers may suggest removing both fallopian tubes at the same time to reduce the lifetime risk of ovarian cancer. This procedure is called opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy (OBS). But is OBS is more effective for lowering ovarian cancer risk compared with surgeries like hysterectomy or tubal ligation alone? Analyzing data from 196,839 people in Ontario between 2011 and 2023, Advancing Health scientist Dr. Mary De Vera identified 57,941 people who underwent OBS as part of their surgery and 138,898 who underwent hysterectomy or tubal ligation alone. A total of 142 epithelial ovarian cancers were diagnosed six or more months after surgery — 19 in the OBS group and 123 in the comparator surgery group. Compared to those who underwent comparator surgeries, people who underwent OBS had a 40% reduction in risk for ovarian carcinoma and a nearly 55% reduction in the risk of serous ovarian carcinoma. These results support the use of OBS as an effective ovarian cancer prevention strategy among the general population.
Children of women with congenital heart disease appear more likely to experience developmental vulnerability when starting school
Hossin MZ, Gadermann A, Nagy E, Gill R, Petteni MG, Faxén J, Razaz N. Maternal congenital heart disease and risk of child developmental vulnerability in early school age: A population-based cohort study. PLoS Medicine. Published online July 2, 2026.
Advancing Health scientist Dr. Anne Gadermann joined researchers from UBC and Sweden to determine whether maternal congenital heart disease (CHD) has an impact on long-term child development. Data were collected from 256,629 children born in BC between 1995 and 2016, with follow up data on developmental vulnerability gathered via Early Development Instrument (EDI) surveys administered in kindergarten. The EDI evaluates competencies deemed necessary for effective participation in school, such as physical health and wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communication skills and general knowledge. Of the children analyzed, 456 were born to mothers with CHD, of whom around 25% experienced developmental vulnerability, compared with around 17% unexposed children. In all, the researchers discovered that maternal CHD was associated with a 28% higher risk of developmental vulnerability at school entry. The mechanisms behind this association are likely multifactorial and require further investigation, but initial hypotheses are that it may involve impaired placental function or decreased cardiac function. In the meantime, additional monitoring and support could benefit women of reproductive age living with CHD and help reduce the likelihood of long-term developmental difficulties in potential future children.
