Review

. 2026 Feb 18.

doi: 10.1007/s12630-026-03073-y. Online ahead of print.

Core sociodemographic data variables reported in Canadian intensive care unit studies: a scoping review

Fatima Sheikh^#¹, Karla D Krewulak^#², Thérèse G Poulin², Zara Stelfox², John C Marshall³, Karen E A Burns^{4

5}, Scotty Kupsch², Christina Maratta^{6

7}, Srinivas Murthy⁸, Katie O'Hearn⁹, Kristine Russell², Sangeeta Mehta^{5

10}, Kirsten M Fiest^{11

12

13}; Canadian Critical Care Trials Group (CCCTG)

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
² Department of Critical Care Medicine, Alberta Health Services & University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
³ Departments of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Division of Pediatric Critical Care, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁷ Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁸ Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁹ Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
¹⁰ Department of Medicine, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada.
¹¹ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Alberta Health Services & University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. kmfiest@ucalgary.ca.
¹² Department of Community Health Sciences & O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. kmfiest@ucalgary.ca.
¹³ Department of Psychiatry & Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. kmfiest@ucalgary.ca.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 41709075
DOI: 10.1007/s12630-026-03073-y

Review

Core sociodemographic data variables reported in Canadian intensive care unit studies: a scoping review

Fatima Sheikh et al. Can J Anaesth. 2026.

. 2026 Feb 18.

doi: 10.1007/s12630-026-03073-y. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
² Department of Critical Care Medicine, Alberta Health Services & University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
³ Departments of Surgery and Critical Care Medicine, Unity Health Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁴ Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁵ Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
⁶ Division of Pediatric Critical Care, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁷ Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
⁸ Division of Critical Care, Department of Pediatrics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
⁹ Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
¹⁰ Department of Medicine, Sinai Health System, Toronto, ON, Canada.
¹¹ Department of Critical Care Medicine, Alberta Health Services & University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. kmfiest@ucalgary.ca.
¹² Department of Community Health Sciences & O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. kmfiest@ucalgary.ca.
¹³ Department of Psychiatry & Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. kmfiest@ucalgary.ca.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 41709075
DOI: 10.1007/s12630-026-03073-y

Abstract
in English, French

Purpose: We sought to summarize the sociodemographic variables reported in Canadian-led intensive care unit (ICU) studies to identify data collection priorities to enhance future research reporting and research efforts aimed at addressing health inequities.

Source: Using Arksey and O'Malley's methodologic framework, we conducted a scoping review of Canadian-led (defined as studies where the corresponding, first, or last author was based in Canada) ICU studies up to April 2024. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) for medical subject headings (MeSH) terms related to the setting (ICU) and region (i.e., Canadian provinces and territories) from January 2012 to capture the most recent trends and practices in ICU research for sociodemographic data collection. Title/abstract and full-text screening, as well as data abstraction, were performed in duplicate using Covidence. We included any study where social determinants of health (SDoHs) could be linked to outcomes. Sociodemographic variables were grouped into eight domains using the place, race/ethnicity, occupation, gender/sex, religion, education, socioeconomic status, and social capital (PROGRESS)-Plus health equity framework.

Principal findings: Of 11,706 records, we included 409 studies. Study designs included retrospective cohorts (234/409; 57%), prospective cohorts (96/409; 23%), and randomized trials (41/409; 10%). All studies reported age (mean, median, or categories), most reported sex (352/409; 86%), and 19% reported gender (78/409). Only 44 studies (44/409; 11%) reported race and/or ethnicity. Few studies reported place of residence, preferred language, occupation, education, socioeconomic status, or variables related to social capital.

Conclusions: Canadian-led ICU studies rarely report important SDoHs, such as place of residence, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Further work is needed to implement robust and appropriate collection and reporting of SDoHs for Canadian-led research studies.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Nous avons cherché à résumer les variables sociodémographiques déclarées dans les études menées dans les unités de soins intensifs (USI) sous contrôle canadien afin de cerner les priorités en matière de collecte de données, dans le but d’améliorer la qualité des rapports de recherche futurs et de soutenir les travaux visant à réduire les iniquités en santé.

Sources: En utilisant le cadre méthodologique d’Arksey et O’Malley, nous avons réalisé une étude de portée des études menées sous contrôle canadien, définies comme des études dont la personne auteure correspondante, la première ou la dernière personne auteure était basée au Canada, portant sur les USI jusqu’en avril 2024. Les bases de données MEDLINE, Embase et CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) ont été interrogées à l’aide de descripteurs médicaux (MeSH) liés au milieu (USI) et à la région, soit les provinces et territoires canadiens, à partir de janvier 2012 afin de refléter les tendances et pratiques les plus récentes en recherche sur la collecte de données sociodémographiques en USI. Le dépistage des titres et résumés, l’évaluation des textes intégraux ainsi que l’extraction des données ont été réalisés en double à l’aide de la plateforme Covidence. Toute étude dans laquelle des déterminants sociaux de la santé (DSS) pouvaient être associés à des résultats cliniques a été incluse. Les variables sociodémographiques ont été regroupées en huit domaines selon le cadre d’équité en santé PROGRESS-Plus : lieu, race ou ethnicité, profession, genre ou sexe, religion, niveau de scolarité, statut socioéconomique et capital social.

Constatations principales: Parmi 11 706 références recensées, 409 études ont été incluses. Les méthodologies d’étude comprenaient des cohortes rétrospectives (234/409; 57 %), des cohortes prospectives (96/409; 23 %) et des études randomisées (41/409; 10 %). L’âge, présenté sous forme de moyenne, de médiane ou de catégories, était rapporté dans l’ensemble des études. La majorité rapportait le sexe (352/409; 86 %), tandis que 19 % rapportaient le genre (78/409). Seulement 44 études (44/409; 11 %) rapportaient la race ou l’ethnicité. Peu d’études rapportaient le lieu de résidence, la langue préférée, la profession, le niveau de scolarité, le statut socioéconomique ou des variables liées au capital social.

Conclusion: Les études menées sous contrôle canadien en USI rapportent rarement des déterminants sociaux de la santé importants, tels que le lieu de résidence, la race, l’ethnicité et le statut socioéconomique. Des travaux supplémentaires sont nécessaires afin de mettre en œuvre une collecte et une déclaration robustes et appropriées des déterminants sociaux de la santé dans les études de recherche dirigées depuis le Canada.

Keywords: PROGRESS-Plus; critical care; intensive care unit; social determinants of health; sociodemographic factors.

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References

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Core sociodemographic data variables reported in Canadian intensive care unit studies: a scoping review

Affiliations

Core sociodemographic data variables reported in Canadian intensive care unit studies: a scoping review

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract
in English, French

References

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Miscellaneous

Abstract in English, French

References

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LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Miscellaneous

Abstract
in English, French