The Population Health Model (POHEM): an overview of rationale, methods and applications.
The POpulation HEalth Model (POHEM) is a health microsimulation model that was developed at Statistics Canada in the early 1990s. POHEM draws together rich multivariate data from a wide range of sources to simulate the lifecycle of the Canadian population, specifically focusing on aspects of health. The model dynamically simulates individuals' disease states, risk factors, and health determinants, in order to describe and project health outcomes, including disease incidence, prevalence, life expectancy, health-adjusted life expectancy, quality of life, and healthcare costs. Additionally, POHEM was conceptualized and built with the ability to assess the impact of policy and program interventions, not limited to those taking place in the healthcare system, on the health status of Canadians. Internationally, POHEM and other microsimulation models have been used to inform clinical guidelines and health policies in relation to complex health and health system problems. This paper provides a high-level overview of the rationale, methodology, and applications of POHEM. Applications of POHEM to cardiovascular disease, physical activity, cancer, osteoarthritis, and neurological diseases are highlighted.
Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6 Canada.
Deirdre A
DA
Hennessy
Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6 Canada.
William M
WM
Flanagan
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Room 2-012 Administrative Services Building, Box 684, 1053 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9 Canada ; C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre and Bruyere Research Institute, 43 Bruyere Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5C8 Canada.
Peter
P
Tanuseputro
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Room 2-012 Administrative Services Building, Box 684, 1053 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9 Canada ; The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, G1 06, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5 Canada.
Carol
C
Bennett
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Room 2-012 Administrative Services Building, Box 684, 1053 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9 Canada ; The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, G1 06, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5 Canada.
Meltem
M
Tuna
School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia and the Arthritis Research Centre of Canada, 895 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L7 Canada.
Jacek
J
Kopec
Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5 Canada.
Michael C
MC
Wolfson
Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, 100 Tunney's Pasture Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1A 0T6 Canada ; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Room 2-012 Administrative Services Building, Box 684, 1053 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E9 Canada ; C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre and Bruyere Research Institute, 43 Bruyere Street, Ottawa, ON K1N 5C8 Canada ; The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, G1 06, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5 Canada ; The Department of Family and Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Room 3105, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5 Canada.
Douglas G
DG
Manuel