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 | 17.6%† | 9.5% |
| Youth ages 12-19 years that are exposed to passive smoke in the home everyday or almost everydaya | 20.1%†,* | 15.6% |
| Youth ages 12-19 years that are exposed to passive smoke in a car everyday or almost everydaya | 13.6%†,* | 18.3% |
| Adults ages 20+ that are current daily or occasional smokersb, 1 | 30.9%* | 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, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
b Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
Youth Smoking
Niagara has a high number of youth smokers. 17.6% of Niagara youth aged 12-19 reported smoking daily or occasionally, which is much higher than that of Ontario (9.5%).
In regards to passive smoking, 20.1% of Niagara youth aged 12-19 are exposed to passive smoke in the home everyday or almost everyday, which is much higher than that reported for Ontario as a whole (15.6%).
Adult Smoking
32.2% of Niagara adults over the age of 20 reported smoking daily or occasionally. This is very similar to the percentage of adults that reported smoking in Ontario (30.1%).
Obesity
| Niagara | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Youth ages 12-17 years who are overweight or obese (International Classification System) | 31.7% †,* | 20.0% |
| Adults ages 18+ years who are overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0)1 | 48.7% | 46.6% |
* Significantly different from Ontario. † Interpret with caution, data was limited due to low numbers.
1 Age-Standardized rates (Canada 1991)
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, 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. 48.7% 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 (46.6%).
Alcohol Consumption
| Niagara (%) |
Ontario (%) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall population | ||
| Population ages 12+ who report drinking daily1 | 63.1 | 57.1 |
| Population ages 12+ who report drinking occasionally1 | 16.4 | 16.5 |
| Population ages 12+ who reported consuming 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous 12 months1 | 42.1* | 34.5 |
| Youth | ||
| Youth ages 12-19 who report drinking daily | 27.5 | 25.3 |
| Youth ages 12-19 who report drinking occasionally | 19.9 | 19.3 |
| Youth ages 12-19 who reported consuming 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous 12 months | 38.9* | 33.1 |
| Adult | ||
| Adults ages 20+ who reported drinking daily1 | 68.8* | 63.1 |
| Adults ages 20+ who reported drinking occasionally1 | 17.6* | 16.0 |
| Adults ages 20+ who reported consuming 5 or more drinks on at least one occasion during the previous 12 months1 | 44.8* | 36.4 |
* Significantly different from Ontario.
1 Age-Standardized rates (Canada 1991)
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
Population alcohol consumption
Niagara has a slightly higher (non-significant) percentage of drinkers than Ontario. 27.5% of those living in the Niagara region are current daily drinkers, in comparison to 25.3% in Ontario. Similarly, 19.9% of those living in Niagara are current occasional drinkers compared to 19.3% in Ontario. Niagara has a significantly higher population who consumed 5 or more drinks on one occasion (42.1%), which is considered high risk drinking than Ontario as a whole (34.5%).
Youth alcohol consumption
Niagara has a slightly higher (non-significant) percentage of youth drinkers than Ontario. 27.5% of youth aged 12-19 living in the Niagara region are current daily drinkers, in comparison to 25.3% in Ontario. Similarly, more youth aged 12-19 in Niagara are current occasional drinkers compared to Ontario youth (19.9% vs 19.3%). Niagara reports a significantly higher number of youth who participate in high risk drinking than Ontario. 38.9% of Niagara youth aged 12-19 reported consuming 5 or more drinks on one occasion in comparison to 33.1% of Ontario youth.
Adult alcohol consumption
Niagara has a significantly higher percentage of adult drinkers than Ontario. In Niagara, 68.8% of adults over the age of 20 reported drinking daily in comparison to 63.1% in Ontario. Similarly, more Niagara adults over the age of 20 reported drinking occasional (17.6%) in comparison to 16.0% in Ontario. Likewise, Niagara has a much higher adult population that participates in high risk drinking. 44.8% 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, 36.4% of Ontarians over the age of 20 have reported the same.
Physical Activity
| Niagara | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Youth ages 12-19 that are moderately active or active | 79.1% * | 68.6% |
| Adults ages 20+ that are moderately active or active 1 | 55.1% * | 47.3% |
1 Age-Standardized rate (Canada 1991)
* Significantly different from Ontario.
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, 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. 55.1% of Niagara residents over the age of 20 are moderately or very active compared to 47.3% 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 | 43.3% | 41.4% |
1 Age-Standardized rate (Canada 1991)
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
43.3% 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 (41.4%).
Cancer
Cancer incidence | Cancer deaths | Cancer risk | Cancer screening
Cancer incidence
| Females | Males | |||||||
| Rank | Niagara region | Ontario | Niagara region | Ontario | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breast | 99.2 | Breast | 98.9 | Prostate | 128.9 | Prostate | 133.9 |
| 2 | Lung | 48.5 | Lung | 43.1 | Lung | 76.0 | Lung | 63.0 |
| 3 | Colorectal | 39.1 | Colorectal | 41.6 | Colorectal | 58.9 | Colorectal | 60.0 |
| 4 | Uterine | 20.4 | Bladder | 20.6 | Bladder | 20.4 | Bladder | 22.8 |
| 5 | Ovarian | 12.3 | Skin | 20.5 | Kidney | 15.6 | Skin | 15.2 |
Sources: Cancer incidence 2006 (contains 2004 cancer data), Cancer Care Ontario, obtained from SeerSTAT.
In Niagara, the top 5 cancers in regards to incidence are similar to those of Ontario.
Females
For females, Niagara and Ontario share breast, lung, and colorectal as three of the top 5 cancers. Uterine and ovary completes the top 5 for Niagara; while, bladder and skin complete the top 5 for Ontario.
Males
For males, Niagara and Ontario share four of the top 5 cancers: prostate, lung, colorectal, and bladder. The only difference between them is that Niagara reports kidney as the fifth top cancer, while Ontario reports skin cancer as the remaining top cancer.
Cancer Deaths
| Females | Males | |||||||
| Rank | Niagara region | Ontario | Niagara region | Ontario | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lung | 35.5 | Breast | 33.0 | Lung | 54.0 | Lung | 53.3 |
| 2 | Breast | 24.7 | Lung | 24.0 | Colorectal | 25.4 | Colorectal | 25.4 |
| 3 | Colorectal | 16.9 | Colorectal | 17.1 | Prostate | 20.8 | Prostate | 22.9 |
| 4 | Ovarian | 10.8 | Uterine | 7.7 | Pancreas | 10.1 | Pancreas | 9.8 |
| 5 | Pancreas | 6.1 | Thyroid | 7.4 | Oesophagus | 7.7 | Oesophagus | 7.3 |
Sources: Cancer incidence 2006 (contains 2004 cancer data), Cancer Care Ontario, obtained from SeerSTAT
In Niagara, the top 5 cancers in regards to death rates are similar to those of Ontario.
Females
For females, Niagara and Ontario share breast; lung; and colorectal as three of the top 5 cancers. Ovary and pancreas complete the top 5 for Niagara; while, uterine and thyroid gland complete the top 5 for Ontario.
Males
For males, Niagara and Ontario the same top 5 cancers in regards to death rates: lung, colorectal, prostate, pancreas and oesophagus.
Cancer Screening
| Niagara | Ontario | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults ages 50-74 that have reported ever receiving a Fecal occult blood test | 44.3% | 42.8% |
| Of those reporting receiving a Fecal occult blood test, percentage receiving one in the last two years | 68.6% | 66.0% |
| Adults ages 50-74 that have reported ever receiving a Colonoscopy or sigmodoscopy | 38.3% | 36.9% |
| Of those reporting receiving a Colonoscopy or sigmodoscopy, percentage receiving one in the last two years | 43.2% | 47.0% |
| Female population ages 50-74 that have reported ever having a mammography | 91.6% * | 89.8% |
| Of those reporting receiving a mammography, percentage receiving one in the last two years | 72.9% | 81.4% |
| Female population ages 18-49 that have reported ever having a pap test | 90.5% * | 86.4% |
| Of those reporting receiving a pap test, percentage receiving one in the last three years | 88.9% | 90.9% |
* Significantly different from Ontario.
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey 4.1, 2007-2008, Statistics Canada, Share File, Ontario MOHLTC.
Niagara is similar to Ontario in regards to percentage of the population receiving cancer screening tests. 44.3% of adults in Niagara ages 50-74 have received a Fecal occult blood test, a screening tool for colorectal cancer compared to 42.8% for Ontario; 38.3% of those living in Niagara (of the same age group) reported having received a Colonoscopy or sigmodoscopy compared to 36.9% for Ontario. For females of Niagara ages 50-74, 91.6% reported having had a mammography compared to females of Ontario ages 50-74 (89.9%).
These numbers are very similar to those for Ontario. The only difference being that a greater percentage of people in Ontario who received a mammography had received this test in the last 2 years (81.4%) compared to people in Niagara (72.9%).
Niagara has a significantly higher percentage of the female population self report having had a pap test compared to Ontario. 90.5% of females in Niagara ages 18-49 have received a pap test, a screening tool for cervical cancer compared to 86.4% for Ontario. Niagara is similar to Ontario in regards to the percentage of the population who had received this test in the last 3 years (88.9% vs. 90.9%).
Leading Causes of Death
| Females | ||||
| Rank | (0-64 years) | (65+ years) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lung cancer | 12.5% | Ischaemic heart disease | 26.3% |
| 2 | Breast cancer | 9.6% | Cerebrovascular disease | 8.9% |
| 3 | Ischaemic heart disease | 8.1% | Dementia and Alzheimer Disease, APHEO | 5.5% |
| 4 | Colorectal cancer | 5.1% | Lung Cancer | 5.5% |
| 5 | Ovarian Cancer | 3.4% | Diabetes | 4.8% |
| Males | ||||
| Rank | (0-64 years) | (65+ years) | ||
| 1 | Ischaemic heart disease | 16.6% | Ischarmic heart disease | 25.8% |
| 2 | Lung cancer | 8.9% | Lung Cancer | 7.8% |
| 3 | Intentional self harm | 6.8% | Cerebrovascular diseases | 6.1% |
| 4 | Colorectal cancer | 4.1% | Chronic lower respiratory disease | 5.5% |
| 5 | Transport accidents | 3.8% | Diabetes | 4.9% |
Source: Causes of Death 2000-2005, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO Data. Last Refreshed July 2010.
Females
Females of Niagara ages 0-64 share Ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and lung cancer as leading causes of death with females of Niagara over the age of 65. For females ages 0-64, however, breast cancer and colorectal cancer complete the leading causes of death; whereas, dementia and Alzheimer's disease and diabetes complete the leading causes of death for females over the age of 65.
Males
Ischaemic heart disease and lung cancer make up the top two leading causes of death for both men ages 0-64 and men over the age of 65 in Niagara. The remaining three leading causes of death between these age groups, however, are completely different. For men ages 0-64; intentional self harm, transportation accidents and colorectal cancer complete the list for leading causes of death. Cerebrovascular disease, chronic lower respiratory disease and diabetes complete the list for men over the age of 65.
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 and Low birth weight. 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
.
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; heart failure, Acute myocardial infarction, Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, Cerebrovascular diseases
and Pneumonia are the leading causes of hospitalization.
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