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

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.

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.

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.

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.