Chronic Diseases and Healthy Behaviour
Chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke and cancer of the lungs are the leading causes of death in Niagara. These diseases often require hospitalization and medical treatment which directly impacts health care costs, families and productivity.
Although Chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Making healthy choices such as being physically active every day; eating healthy, nutritious foods; living tobacco/smoke free and limiting alcohol use goes a long way to prevent and help control the effects of such diseases.
In Niagara we have a higher percentage of adults over the age of 18 years who are overweight and obese when compared to Ontario.
As well there is a significant rise in smoking and binge drinking rates amongst Niagara youth. To ensure optimal health for all Niagara residents, we all need to promote healthy behaviours, create healthy environments and develop healthy public policies wherever we live, learn, work and play.
The data tables below provide a snapshot of chronic disease and healthy behaviour indicators across Niagara and Ontario.
Risk Factors
Chronic diseases often develop as a result of one or more of a few common modifiable factors, called risk factors. Therefore, reducing or eliminating the occurrence of a specific risk factor could significantly reduce the occurrence of a disease.
Smoking | Obesity | Alcohol consumption| Physical activity | Healthy eating
Smoking
| Niagara | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Youth ages 12-19 that are current daily or occasional smokersa | 11.9%† | 9.3% |
| Youth ages 12-19 years that are exposed to passive smoke in the homea | 18.2%† | 14.2% |
| Adults ages 20+ that are current daily or occasional smokersb, 1 | 30.1%* | 22.5% |
1 Age-Standardized rates (Canada 1991)
* Significantly different from Ontario. † Interpret with caution, data was limited due to low numbers.
Source:
a Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
b Canadian Community Health Survey 2009, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
Youth Smoking
Niagara has a high number of youth smokers. 11.9% of Niagara youth aged 12-19 reported smoking daily or occasionally, which is much higher than that of Ontario (9.3%).
In regards to passive smoking, 18.2% of Niagara youth aged 12-19 are exposed to passive smoke in the home, which is similar to that of Ontario as a whole (14.2%).
Adult Smoking
30.1% of Niagara adults over the age of 20 reported smoking daily or occasionally. This is significantly higher compared to the percentage of adults that reported smoking in Ontario (22.5%).
Obesity
| Niagara | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Youth ages 12-17 years who are overweight or obese (International Classification System)a | 31.7% †,* | 20.0% |
| Adults ages 18+ years who are overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0)b,1 | 49.3% | 44.9% |
* Significantly different from Ontario. † Interpret with caution, data was limited due to low numbers.
1 Age-Standardized rates (Canada 1991)
Source:
aCanadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007- 2008, Statistics Canada. Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
bCanadian Community Health Survey 2009, Statistics Canada. Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
Youth Obesity
Niagara has a high number of obese youth in comparison to Ontario. 31.7% of Niagara youth aged 12-17 years old are considered to be overweight or obese. This is much higher than the 20.0% reported for Ontario.
Adult Obesity
The percentage of obese and overweight individuals continues to rise as people get older. 49.3% of Niagara adults over the age of 18 are overweight or obese (Body Mass Index ≥ 25), according to self report, which again, is much higher than Ontario (44.9%).
| Niagara (%) |
Ontario (%) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall population | ||
| Population ages 12+ who report drinking daily or occasionally1a | 80.2 | 73.3 |
| Population ages 12+ who reported consuming 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous 12 months1a | 50.5* | 48.4 |
| Youth | ||
| Youth ages 12-19 who reported consuming 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous 12 monthsa | 16.6 | 11.2 |
| Adult | ||
| Adults ages 20+ who reported drinking daily or occasionally1b | 87.2 | 78.9 |
| Adults ages 20+ who reported consuming 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous 12 months1b | 51.6 | 46.7 |
* Significantly different from Ontario.
1 Age-Standardized rates (Canada 1991)
Source:
aCanadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
bCanadian Community Health Survey 2009, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
Population alcohol consumption
Niagara has a slightly higher percentage of drinkers than Ontario. 80.2% of those living in the Niagara region are current daily or occasional drinkers, in comparison to 73.3% in Ontario. Niagara has a significantly higher population who consumed 5 or more drinks on one occasion (50.5%), which is considered high risk drinking than Ontario as a whole (48.4%).
Youth alcohol consumption
16.6% of Niagara youth aged 12-19 reported consuming 5 or more drinks on one occasion in comparison to 11.2% of Ontario youth.
Adult alcohol consumption
Niagara has a higher percentage of adult drinkers than Ontario. In Niagara, 87.2% of adults over the age of 20 reported drinking daily or occasionally in comparison to 78.9% in Ontario. Likewise, Niagara has a much higher adult population that participates in high risk drinking. 51.6% of Niagara adults over the age of 20 report having consumed 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion in the past year; whereas, 46.7% of Ontarians over the age of 20 have reported the same.
Physical Activity
| Niagara | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Youth ages 12-19 that are moderately active or activea | 79.1% * | 68.6% |
| Adults ages 20+ that are moderately active or active 1,b | 59.1% * | 49.0% |
1 Age-Standardized rate (Canada 1991)
* Significantly different from Ontario.
Source:
aCanadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
bCanadian Community Health Survey 2009, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
Niagara has a higher percentage of active youth than Ontario. 79.1% of Niagara residents aged 12-19 are moderately or very active compared to 68.6% in Ontario.
Niagara also has a higher percentage of active adults than that of Ontario. 59.1% of Niagara residents over the age of 20 are moderately or very active compared to 49.0% in Ontario. Interestingly, for both Niagara and Ontario, the percentage of active adults is much lower than the percentage of active youth, indicating that physical activity decreases as age increases.
Healthy Eating
| Niagara | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Population ages 12+ that have consumed fruits and vegetables five or more times daily1 | 38.4% | 43.7% |
1 Age-Standardized rate (Canada 1991)
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
38.4% of Niagara residents aged 12 or older consumes fruits and vegetables more than five times daily. This is very similar to the percentage for Ontario (43.7%).
Cancer
Cancer Mortality and Incidence in the Niagara Region, 2000 - 2007
Source: Cancer Care Ontario-SEER *Stat Release 7 - OCRIS (February 2009) released March 2009
Mortality
From 2000 - 2007, there were 9,016 cancer-related deaths in the Niagara region. Over one-quarter (25.2%) of these deaths were due to lung cancer. Colorectal, female breast, and prostate cancer collectively equate to more than one-quarter of these cancer-related deaths. Just under half of all cancer-related deaths were attributable to various other cancers. Among these cancers, the highest numbers of deaths were due to cancers of the digestive system (other than colorectal), cancers of the urinary system, cancers of the female genital system, lymphoma, and leukemia.
Incidence
From 2000 to 2007, there were 19,511 newly diagnosed cases of cancer in Niagara Region. The cancers with the highest incidence for this time period include; prostate (16.1%), lung (14.5%), colorectal (12.7%), and female breast (12.7%). Just under half (44.0%) of the cancer incidence for this time period was attributable to various other types of cancers. Within these 'other cancers', the highest incidence occurred among cancers of the urinary system, cancers of the female genital system, lymphomas, skin cancer (excluding basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas), and leukemia.
Cancer-specific Incidence Rates in the Niagara region, 2000-2007
Source: Cancer Care Ontario-SEER *Stat Release 7 - OCRIS (February 2009) released March 2009
Cancer-specific Mortality Rates in the Niagara region, 2000-2007
Source: Cancer Care Ontario-SEER *Stat Release 7 - OCRIS (February 2009) released March 2009
Cancer-specific Incidence and Mortality Rates
Colorectal cancer, lung cancer and female breast cancer remained relatively stable from 2000 to 2007. Colorectal cancer showed a slight increase in incidence, although not a statistically significant increase. Prostate cancer did increase during this time period, with a spike in incidence from 2004 to 2006. This may be due to increased screening during that time period. Since this increase is only seen over two years, however, it is difficult to determine if this is a pattern that will continue.
Further analysis will need to be performed once data for the years following 2007 are available. The mortality rates for colorectal cancer, female breast cancer and prostate cancer have also remained relatively stable during the same time period. The mortality rate for lung cancer does appear to be increasing, but this increase is not statistically significant. Further data are required to determine if a trend exists.
Leading Causes of Hospitalizations
| Females | ||||
| Rank | (0-64 years) | (65+ years) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Complications of pregnancy (labour and delivery) | 14.8% | Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases | 5.3% |
| 2 | Complications of pregnancy (Antenatal) | 11.5% | Heart Failure | 5.0% |
| 3 | Liveborn infants according to place of birth | 10.8% | Fracture of femur | 4.2% |
| 4 | Mood, affective disorders | 2.1% | Acute myocardial infarction | 3.8% |
| 5 | Abdominal and pelvic pain | 1.6% | Conduction disorders, cardiac arrhythmias | 3.6% |
| Males | ||||
| Rank | (0-64 years) | (65+ years) | ||
| 1 | Liveborn infants according to place of birth | 16.2% | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis | 6.6% |
| 2 | Acute myocardial infarction | 2.6% | Heart Failure | 5.8% |
| 3 | Diabetes mellitus | 2.3% | Acute myocardial infarction | 4.8% |
| 4 | Mood, affective disorders | 2.3% | Conduction disorders, cardiac arrhythmias | 3.5% |
| 5 | Asthma | 1.9% | Pneumonia | 3.5% |
Source: Causes of Hospitalization 2003-2008, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO Data. Last Refreshed July 2010.
The leading causes of hospitalizations in Niagara differ by age category for each gender.
Females
For females ages 0-64, the leading causes of hospitalization are complications of pregnancy (labour and delivery), complications of pregnancy (Antenatal), birth, mood and effective disorders and disorders related to Short gestation, Low birth weight, and abdominal and pelvic pain. For females over the age of 65, the leading causes of hospitalization are: heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, Acute myocardial infarction and Cerebrovascular diseases and fracture of femur.
Males
Birth, disorders related to Short gestation and low birth weight, Acute myocardial infarction, complications of surgical and medical care and diabetes are the leading causes of hospitalization for males ages 0-64 in Niagara. For males over the age of 65 in Niagara; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, heart failure, Acute myocardial infarction, Conduction disorders, cardiac arrhythmias and Pneumonia are the leading causes of hospitalization.
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