Health Profile, December 2013

Health data: Footnotes

Footnote 1

Perceived health, very good or excellent

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported perceiving their own health status as being either excellent or very good or fair or poor, depending on the indicator. Perceived health refers to the perception of a person's health in general, either by the person himself or herself, or, in the case of proxy response, by the person responding. Health means not only the absence of disease or injury but also physical, mental and social well being.

Perceived health is an indicator of overall health status. It can reflect aspects of health not captured in other measures, such as incipient disease, disease severity, physiological and psychological reserves as well as social and mental function. Perceived health refers to a person's health in general — not only the absence of disease or injury, but also physical, mental and social well-being.

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Footnote 3

Perceived mental health, very good or excellent

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported perceiving their own mental health status as being excellent or very good or fair or poor, depending on the indicator. Perceived mental health refers to the perception of a person's mental health in general. Perceived mental health provides a general indication of the population suffering from some form of mental disorder, mental or emotional problems, or distress, not necessarily reflected in perceived health.

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Footnote 5

Perceived life stress

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 15 and over who reported perceiving that most days in their life were quite a bit or extremely stressful. Perceived life stress refers to the amount of stress in the person's life, on most days, as perceived by the person or, in the case of proxy response, by the person responding.

Stress carries several negative health consequences, including heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, as well as immune and circulatory complications.¹ Exposure to stress can also contribute to behaviours such as smoking, over-consumption of alcohol, and less-healthy eating habits.

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Footnote 6

Overweight or obese

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Body mass index (BMI) is a method of classifying body weight according to health risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, health risk levels are associated with each of the following BMI categories:

• normal weight = least health risk;
• underweight and overweight = increased health risk;
• obese, class I = high health risk;
• obese, class II = very high health risk;
• obese, class III = extremely high health risk.

Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the respondent's body weight (in kilograms) by their height (in metres) squared.

A definition change was implemented in 2004 to conform with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines for body weight classification. The index is calculated for the population aged 18 and over, excluding pregnant females and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, the index for body weight classification is:

• less than 18.50 (underweight);
• 18.50 to 24.99 (normal weight);
• 25.00 to 29.99 (overweight);
• 30.00 to 34.99 (obese, class I);
• 35.00 to 39.99 (obese, class II);
• 40.00 or greater (obese, class III).

Obesity has been linked with many chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer.

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Footnote 7

Overweight

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Body mass index (BMI) is a method of classifying body weight according to health risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, health risk levels are associated with each of the following BMI categories:

• normal weight = least health risk;
• underweight and overweight = increased health risk;
• obese, class I = high health risk;
• obese, class II = very high health risk;
• obese, class III = extremely high health risk.

Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the respondent's body weight (in kilograms) by their height (in metres) squared.

A definition change was implemented in 2004 to conform with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines for body weight classification. The index is calculated for the population aged 18 and over, excluding pregnant females and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, the index for body weight classification is:

• less than 18.50 (underweight);
• 18.50 to 24.99 (normal weight);
• 25.00 to 29.99 (overweight);
• 30.00 to 34.99 (obese, class I);
• 35.00 to 39.99 (obese, class II);
• 40.00 or greater (obese, class III).

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Footnote 8

Obese

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Body mass index (BMI) is a method of classifying body weight according to health risk. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, health risk levels are associated with each of the following BMI categories:

• normal weight = least health risk;
• underweight and overweight = increased health risk;
• obese, class I = high health risk;
• obese, class II = very high health risk;
• obese, class III = extremely high health risk.

Body mass index (BMI) is calculated by dividing the respondent's body weight (in kilograms) by their height (in metres) squared.

A definition change was implemented in 2004 to conform with the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines for body weight classification. The index is calculated for the population aged 18 and over, excluding pregnant females and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada guidelines, the index for body weight classification is:

• less than 18.50 (underweight);
• 18.50 to 24.99 (normal weight);
• 25.00 to 29.99 (overweight);
• 30.00 to 34.99 (obese, class I);
• 35.00 to 39.99 (obese, class II);
• 40.00 or greater (obese, class III).

Obesity has been linked with many chronic diseases, including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and certain types of cancer.

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Footnote 10

Arthritis

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 15 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having arthritis. Prior to 2009-2010, data for this indicator covered population aged 12 and over.

Arthritis includes rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, but excludes fibromyalgia.

The term 'arthritis' describes many conditions that affect joints, the tissue surrounding joints, and other connective tissue. The most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The resulting pain, stiffness, swelling and/or deformity of the joints can substantially reduce quality of life.

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Footnote 11

Diabetes

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having diabetes.

Diabetes includes females 15 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or when the insulin produced is not used effectively. Diabetes may lead to a reduced quality of life as well as complications such as heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

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Footnote 12

Asthma

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that causes coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing. Quality of life can be affected not only by asthma attacks, but also by absences from work and limitations in other activities.

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Footnote 13

High blood pressure

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having high blood pressure.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, increases the risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. It can narrow and block arteries, as well as strain and weaken the body's organs.

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Footnote 14

Mood disorder

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having a mood disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, mania or dysthymia.

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Footnote 15

Pain or discomfort, moderate or severe

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported that they usually have pain or discomfort.

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Footnote 16

Pain or discomfort that prevents activities

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported having pain or discomfort that prevents activities.

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Footnote 17

Low birth weight

Source : Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Birth Database, 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4303, 102-4304

Live births less than 2,500 grams, expressed as a percentage of all live births (birth weight known).

Counts and rates (percentages) in this table are based on three consecutive years of data which were summed and divided by three. Counts have been rounded and do not always add to the exact totals.

The reference period associated with these data reflects the mid-point of the three-year period.

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Footnote 18

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 35 and over who reported being diagnosed by a health professional with chronic bronchitis, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

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Footnote 19

Injuries within the past 12 months causing limitation of normal activities

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who sustained injuries in the past 12 months. Repetitive strain injuries are not included. Refers to injuries which are serious enough to limit normal activities. For those with more than one injury in the past 12 months, refers to "the most serious injury", as identified by the respondent.

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Footnote 20

Injuries in the past 12 months, sought medical attention

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502

Population aged 12 and over who sustained injuries in the past 12 months and who sought medical attention from a health professional in the 48 hours following the injury.

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Footnote 21

Hospitalized stroke event rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Hospitalized stroke event rate

Age-standardized rate of new stroke events admitted to an acute care hospital per 100,000 population age 20 and older. New event is defined as a first-ever hospitalization for stroke or a recurrent hospitalized stroke occurring more than 28 days after the admission for the previous event in the reference period.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of long-term disability and death. Measuring its occurrence in the population is important for planning and evaluating of preventive strategies, allocating health resources and estimating costs. From a disease surveillance perspective, there are three groups of strokes: fatal events occurring out of the hospital, non-fatal stokes managed outside acute care hospitals and those admitted to an acute care facility. Although strokes admitted to a hospital do not reflect all stroke events in the community, this information provides a useful and timely estimate of the disease occurrence in the population.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 22

Hospitalized acute myocardial infarction (AMI) event rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD); Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, CIHI, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Hospitalized acute myocardial infarction (AMI) event rate

Age-standardized rate of new AMI events admitted to an acute care hospital per 100,000 population age 20 and older. New event is defined as a first-ever hospitalization for an AMI or a recurrent hospitalized AMI occurring more than 28 days after the admission for the previous event in the reference period.

AMI is one of the leading causes of morbidity and death. Measuring its occurrence in the population is important for planning and evaluating preventive strategies, allocating health resources and estimating costs. From a disease surveillance perspective, there are three groups of AMI events: non-diagnosed events, fatal events occurring outside the hospital and those admitted to acute care hospitals. Although AMIs admitted to a hospital do not reflect all acute myocardial infarctions in the community, this information provides a useful and timely estimate of the disease occurrence in the population.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 23

Injury hospitalization rate

Source : National Trauma Registry (NTR), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Injury hospitalization rate

Age-standardized rate of acute care hospitalization due to injury resulting from the transfer of energy (excluding poisoning and other non-traumatic injuries), per 100,000 population.

This indicator contributes to an understanding of the adequacy and effectiveness of injury prevention efforts, including public education, product development and use, community and road design, and prevention and treatment resources.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 24

Cancer incidence

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division (population estimates) 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 103-0404, 103-0405

Cancer incidence refers to new primary sites of malignant neoplasms.

World Health Organization, International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) rules for determining multiple primaries sites.  [C00-C97].

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Footnote 25

Colon cancer incidence

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division (population estimates) 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 103-0404, 103-0405

Cancer incidence refers to new primary sites of malignant neoplasms.

World Health Organization, International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) rules for determining multiple primaries sites. [C18.0-C18.9, C26.0]

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Footnote 26

Lung cancer incidence

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division (population estimates) 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 103-0404, 103-0405

Cancer incidence refers to new primary sites of malignant neoplasms.

World Health Organization, International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) rules for determining multiple primaries sites.  [C34.0-C34.9]

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Footnote 27

Breast cancer incidence

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division (population estimates) 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 103-0404, 103-0405

Cancer incidence refers to new primary sites of malignant neoplasms.

World Health Organization, International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) rules for determining multiple primaries sites. [C50.0-C50.9]

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Footnote 28

Prostate cancer incidence

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Cancer Registry (CCR) Database and Demography Division (population estimates) 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 103-0404, 103-0405

Cancer incidence refers to new primary sites of malignant neoplasms.

World Health Organization, International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition (ICD-O-3) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) rules for determining multiple primaries sites. [C61.9]

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Footnote 29

Current smoker, daily or occasional

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported being a current smoker.

Daily smokers refers to those who reported smoking cigarettes every day.

Does not take into account the number of cigarettes smoked.

Occasional smokers refers to those who reported smoking cigarettes occasionally. This includes former daily smokers who now smoke occasionally.

Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory disease, and other conditions¹. According to the World Health Organization, smoking is an important and preventable cause of death.

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Footnote 30

Current smoker, daily

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported being a current smoker.

Daily smokers refers to those who reported smoking cigarettes every day.

Does not take into account the number of cigarettes smoked.

Smoking is a risk factor for lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory disease, and other conditions.¹ According to the World Health Organization, smoking is an important and preventable cause of death.

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Footnote 31

Heavy drinking

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported having 5 or more drinks on one occasion, at least once a month in the past year.

Heavy drinking refers to having consumed five or more drinks, per occasion, at least once a month during the past year. This level of alcohol consumption can have serious health and social consequences, especially when combined with other behaviours such as driving while intoxicated.

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Footnote 32

Leisure-time physical activity, moderately active or active

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported a level of physical activity, based on their responses to questions about the nature, frequency and duration of their participation in leisure-time physical activity.

Respondents are classified as active, moderately active or inactive based on an index of average daily physical activity over the past 3 months. For each leisure time physical activity engaged in by the respondent, an average daily energy expenditure is calculated by multiplying the number of times the activity was performed by the average duration of the activity by the energy cost (kilocalories per kilogram of body weight per hour) of the activity. The index is calculated as the sum of the average daily energy expenditures of all activities. Respondents are classified as follows:

• 3.0 kcal/kg/day or more = physically active;
• 1.5 to 2.9 kcal/kg/day = moderately active;
• less than 1.5 kcal/kg/day = inactive.

The health benefits of physical activity include a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, some types of cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, depression, stress and anxiety.

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Footnote 34

Fruit and vegetable consumption, 5 times or more per day

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Indicates the usual number of times (frequency) per day a person reported eating fruits and vegetables. Measure does not take into account the amount consumed.

Fruit and vegetables are an important source of vitamins, minerals and fibre. A diet rich in fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of heart disease and some types of cancer.

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Footnote 35

Bike helmet use

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported that they always wore a helmet when riding a bicycle in the last 12 months.

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Footnote 36

Participation and activity limitation, sometimes or often

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported being limited in selected activities (home, school, work and other activities) because of a physical condition, mental condition or health problem which has lasted or is expected to last 6 months or longer.

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Footnote 37

Functional health, good to full

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over reporting measures of overall functional health, based on 8 dimensions of functioning (vision, hearing, speech, mobility, dexterity, feelings, cognition and pain).

A score of 0.8 to 1.0 is considered to be good to full functional health; scores below 0.8 are considered to indicate moderate to poor functional health problems.

Otherwise known as the Health Utility Index (HUI), this index, developed at McMaster University's Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, is based on the Comprehensive Health Status Measurement System (CHSMS).

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Footnote 38

Influenza immunization, less than one year ago

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported when they had their last influenza immunization (flu shot).  The 2009 data on flu shots may include H1N1 vaccines received in the Fall of 2009. In 2010, the word "seasonal" was added to the questions in order to collect the two types of vaccines separately.

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Footnote 39

Received mammogram within the last 2 years, females aged 50 to 69 years

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2008.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0543

Women aged 50 to 69 who reported when they had their last mammogram for routine screening or other reasons.

Screening mammography is an important strategy for early detection of breast cancer.

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Footnote 40

Pap smear within the last 3 years, by age group, females aged 18 to 69 years

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2005.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0442

Women aged 18 to 69 who reported when they had their last Pap smear test.

Pap tests detect pre-malignant lesions before cancer of the cervix develops.

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Footnote 41

Regular medical doctor

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported that they have a regular medical doctor.

For many Canadians, the first point of contact for medical care is their doctor. Being without a regular medical doctor is associated with fewer visits to general practitioners or specialists, who can play a role in the early screening and treatment of medical conditions.

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Footnote 42

Wait time for hip fracture surgery (Proportion with surgery within 48 hours)

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Wait time for hip fracture surgery (Proportion with surgery within 48 hours)

Proportion with surgery within 48 hours: Risk-adjusted proportion of hip fracture patients age 65 and older who underwent hip fracture surgery within 48 hours of admission to hospital.

Operative delay in older patients with hip fracture is associated with a higher risk of post-operative complications and mortality. Wait time for surgery following hip fracture provides a measure of access to care. The wait time may be influenced by comorbid conditions, hospital transfers and practice differences related to certain types of medications, like blood thinners. However, longer waits may indicate lack of resources, physician unavailability and/or other issues related to access to care.

Rates for Quebec are not available due to differences in data collection. Canada rate does not include Quebec.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 43

Caesarean section

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Caesarean section

Proportion of women delivering babies in acute care hospitals by caesarean section.

Caesarean section rates provide information on the frequency of surgical birth delivery relative to all modes of birth delivery. Since Caesarean section delivery increases maternal morbidity/mortality and is associated with higher costs, Caesarean section rates are often used to monitor clinical practices with an implicit assumption that lower rates indicate more appropriate, as well as more efficient care.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 44

Patients with repeat hospitalizations for mental illness

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Patients with repeat hospitalizations for mental illness

Risk-adjusted percentage of individuals that had three or more episodes of care for a selected mental illness¹ over all those who had at least one episode of care for a selected mental illness in general hospitals within a given year. An episode of care refers to all contiguous hospitalizations and same-day surgery visits in general hospitals.

This indicator is considered an indirect measure of appropriateness of care, since the need for frequent admission to hospital depends on the person and the type of illness. Challenges in getting appropriate care/support in the community and/or the appropriate medication often lead to frequent hospitalizations. Variations in this indicator across jurisdictions may reflect differences in the services that help individuals with mental illness remain in the community for a longer period of time without the need for hospitalization.

This indicator may help to identify a population of frequent users, and further investigations could provide a description of the characteristics of this group. Understanding this population can aid in developing/enhancing programs that may prevent the need for frequent rehospitalization.

¹The mental illnesses selected for this indicator are substance-related disorders; schizophrenia, delusional and non-organic psychotic disorders; mood/affective disorders; anxiety disorders; and selected disorders of adult personality and behaviour.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 45

Ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Ambulatory care sensitive conditions

Age-standardized acute care hospitalization rate for conditions where appropriate ambulatory care prevents or reduces the need for admission to hospital, per 100,000 population under age 75 years.

Ambulatory care sensitive conditions have been considered to be a measure of access to appropriate primary health care. While not all admissions for ambulatory care sensitive conditions are avoidable, it is assumed that appropriate prior ambulatory care could prevent the onset of this type of illness or condition, control an acute episodic illness or condition, or manage a chronic disease or condition. A disproportionately high rate is presumed to reflect problems in obtaining access to primary care.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 46

30-day acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in-hospital mortality

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI. Rates are based on the 3 years of pooled data: April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2012.
Related data: 30-day acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in-hospital mortality rate

The risk-adjusted rate of all-cause in-hospital death occurring within 30 days of first admission to an acute care hospital with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

To enable comparison across regions, a statistical model was used to adjust for differences in age, sex and co-morbidities. Adjusted mortality rates following AMI may reflect, for example, the underlying effectiveness of treatment and quality of care. Inter-regional variation in 30 day in hospital mortality rates may be due to jurisdictional and institutional differences in standards of care, as well as other factors that were not included in the adjustment.

Rates for Quebec are not available due to differences in data collection. Canada rate does not include Quebec.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

Return to health data footnote 46 referrer

Footnote 47

30-day stroke in-hospital mortality

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI. Rates are based on the 3 years of pooled data: April 1, 2009 - March 31, 2012.
Related data: 30-day stroke in-hospital mortality rate

The risk-adjusted rate of all-cause in-hospital death occurring within 30 days of first admission to an acute care hospital with a diagnosis of stroke.

To enable comparison across regions, a statistical model was used to adjust for differences in age, sex and co-morbidities. Adjusted mortality rates following stroke may reflect, for example, the underlying effectiveness of treatment and quality of care. Inter-regional variations in rates may be due to jurisdictional and institutional differences in standards of care, as well as other factors that are not included in the adjustment.

Rates for Quebec are not available due to differences in data collection. Canada rate does not include Quebec.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

Return to health data footnote 47 referrer

Footnote 48

Self-injury hospitalization rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), OMHRS, NACRS, CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Self-injury hospitalization rate

Age-standardized rate of hospitalization in a general hospital due to self-injury per 100,000 population.

Self-injury is defined as a deliberate bodily injury that may or may not result in death. This type of injury is the result of either suicidal or self-harming behaviours, or both. Self-injury can be prevented, in many cases, by early recognition, intervention and treatment of mental illnesses. While some risk factors for self-injury are beyond the control of the health system, high rates of self-injury hospitalization can be interpreted as the result of a failure of the system to prevent self-injuries that are severe enough to require hospitalizations.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

OMHRS: Ontario Mental Health Reporting System

NACRS: National Ambulatory Care Reporting System

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Footnote 49

30-day obstetric readmission rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: 30-day obstetric readmission rate

Risk-adjusted rate of unplanned readmission for obstetric patients. 

Non-elective return to an acute care hospital for any cause is counted as a readmission if it occurs within 30 days of the index episode of inpatient care. An episode of care refers to all contiguous inpatient hospitalizations and same-day surgery visits.

Return to health data footnote 49 referrer

Footnote 50

30-day readmission rate - patients age 19 and younger

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: 30-day readmission rate - patients age 19 and younger

Risk-adjusted rate of unplanned readmission for pediatric patients. 

Non-elective return to an acute care hospital for any cause is counted as a readmission if it occurs within 30 days of the index episode of inpatient care. An episode of care refers to all contiguous inpatient hospitalizations and same-day surgery visits.

Return to health data footnote 50 referrer

Footnote 51

30-day surgical readmission rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: 30-day surgical readmission rate

Risk-adjusted rate of unplanned readmission for adult surgical patients.

Non-elective return to an acute care hospital for any cause is counted as a readmission if it occurs within 30 days of the index episode of inpatient care. An episode of care refers to all contiguous inpatient hospitalizations and same-day surgery visits.

Return to health data footnote 51 referrer

Footnote 52

30-day medical readmission rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: 30-day medical readmission rate

Risk-adjusted rate of unplanned readmission for adult medical patients.

Non-elective return to an acute care hospital for any cause is counted as a readmission if it occurs within 30 days of the index episode of inpatient care. An episode of care refers to all contiguous inpatient hospitalizations and same-day surgery visits.

Return to health data footnote 52 referrer

Footnote 53

Potentially avoidable mortality

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2006/2008.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4311

Age-standardized rate of premature deaths that could potentially have been avoided through all levels of prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary) per 100,000 population. Premature deaths are those of individuals who are younger than age 75.

Return to health data footnote 53 referrer

Footnote 54

Avoidable mortality from preventable causes

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2006/2008.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4311

Age-standardized rate of premature deaths that could potentially have been prevented through primary prevention efforts per 100,000 population. Mortality from preventable causes is a subset of potentially avoidable mortality.

Return to health data footnote 54 referrer

Footnote 55

Avoidable mortality from treatable causes

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2006/2008.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4311

Age-standardized rate of premature deaths that could potentially have been avoided through secondary or tertiary prevention per 100,000 population. Mortality from treatable causes is a subset of potentially avoidable mortality.

Return to health data footnote 55 referrer

Footnote 56

30-day readmission rate for mental illness

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), OMHRS, NACRS, CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: 30-day readmission rate for mental illness

Risk-adjusted rate of readmission following discharge for a mental illness. A case is counted as a readmission if it is for a selected mental illness diagnosis¹ and if it occurs within 30 days of the index episode of inpatient care. An episode of care refers to all contiguous hospitalizations and same-day surgery visits in general hospitals.

Readmission to inpatient care may be an indicator of relapse or complications after an inpatient stay. Inpatient care for people living with a mental illness aims to stabilize acute symptoms. Once stabilized, the individual is discharged, and subsequent care and support are ideally provided through outpatient and community programs in order to prevent relapse or complications. High rates of 30-day readmission could be interpreted as a direct outcome of poor coordination of services and/or an indirect outcome of poor continuity of services after discharge.

¹The mental illnesses selected for this indicator are substance-related disorders; schizophrenia, delusional and non-organic psychotic disorders; mood/affective disorders; anxiety disorders; and selected disorders of adult personality and behaviour.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

OMHRS: Ontario Mental Health Reporting System

NACRS: National Ambulatory Care Reporting System

Return to health data footnote 56 referrer

Footnote 57

Hospitalized hip fracture event rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Hospitalized hip fracture event rate

Age-standardized rate of new hip fractures admitted to an acute care hospital per 100,000 population age 65 years and over. New event is defined as a first-ever hospitalization for hip fracture or a subsequent hip fracture occurring more than 28 days after the admission for the previous event in the reference period. A person may have more than one hip fracture event in the reference period.

Hip fractures represent a significant health burden for seniors and for the health system. As well as causing disability or death, hip fracture may have a major effect on independence and quality of life. Measuring occurrence of hip fractures in the population is important for planning and evaluating preventive strategies, allocating health resources and estimating costs.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

Return to health data footnote 57 referrer

Footnote 58

Exposure to second-hand smoke at home

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Non-smoking population aged 12 and over who reported that at least one person smoked inside their home every day or almost every day.

Smoking includes cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

'Passive smoking,' or exposure to second-hand smoke, has negative respiratory health effects. Two of the most common associated diseases are lung cancer in adults and asthma among children.

Return to health data footnote 58 referrer

Footnote 59

Exposure to second-hand smoke in the past month, in vehicles and/or public places

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Non-smoking population aged 12 and over who reported being exposed to second-hand smoke in private vehicles and/or public places on every day or almost every day in the past month.

Smoking includes cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

'Passive smoking,' or exposure to second-hand smoke, has negative respiratory health effects. Two of the most common associated diseases are lung cancer in adults and asthma among children.

Return to health data footnote 59 referrer

Footnote 62

Infant mortality

Source : Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Birth and Death Databases, 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4305, 102-4306

Infant mortality corresponds to the death of a child under one year of age. Expressed as a rate per 1,000 live births.

A long-established measure, not only of child health, but also of the well-being of a society. This indicator reflects the level of mortality, health status, and health care of a population, and the effectiveness of preventive care and the attention paid to maternal and child health.

Return to health data footnote 62 referrer

Footnote 63

Life expectancy at birth

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2007/2009.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4307

Life expectancy is the number of years a person would be expected to live, starting from birth (for life expectancy at birth) or at age 65 (for life expectancy at age 65), on the basis of the mortality statistics for a given observation period.

A widely used indicator of the health of a population. Life expectancy measures quantity rather than quality of life.

For small populations (less than 25,000), life expectancy is shown with an 'E' (use with caution) to indicate that the quality of the estimates are more affected by the imputation method used when there are no deaths for a given age group.

Return to health data footnote 63 referrer

Footnote 64

Life expectancy at age 65

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2007/2009.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4307

Life expectancy is the number of years a person would be expected to live, starting from birth (for life expectancy at birth) or at age 65 (for life expectancy at age 65), on the basis of the mortality statistics for a given observation period.

A widely used indicator of the health of a population. Life expectancy measures quantity rather than quality of life.

For small populations (less than 25,000), life expectancy is shown with an 'E' (use with caution) to indicate that the quality of the estimates are more affected by the imputation method used when there are no deaths for a given age group.

Return to health data footnote 64 referrer

Footnote 65

Total, all causes of death

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death from all causes per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). All causes of death [A00-Y89].

Return to health data footnote 65 referrer

Footnote 66

All cancers, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). All malignant neoplasms (cancers) [C00-C97].

Return to health data footnote 66 referrer

Footnote 67

Colorectal cancer, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Colorectal cancer [C18-C21].

Return to health data footnote 67 referrer

Footnote 68

Lung cancer, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Lung cancer [C33-C34].

Return to health data footnote 68 referrer

Footnote 69

Breast cancer, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Breast cancer [C50].

Rates for breast cancer (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C50) were calculated for females only.

Return to health data footnote 69 referrer

Footnote 70

Prostate cancer, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Prostate cancer [C61].

Rates for prostate cancer (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code C61) were calculated for males only.

Return to health data footnote 70 referrer

Footnote 71

Circulatory diseases, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Circulatory diseases [I00-I99].

Return to health data footnote 71 referrer

Footnote 72

Ischaemic heart diseases, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Ischaemic heart diseases [I20-I25].

Return to health data footnote 72 referrer

Footnote 73

Cerebrovascular diseases, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Cerebrovascular diseases [I60-I69].

Return to health data footnote 73 referrer

Footnote 74

All other circulatory diseases, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). All other circulatory diseases [I00-I02, I05-I09, I10-I15, I26-I28, I30-I52, I70-I79, I80-I89, I95-I99].

Return to health data footnote 74 referrer

Footnote 75

Respiratory diseases, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Respiratory diseases (excluding infectious and parasitic diseases) [J00-J99].

Return to health data footnote 75 referrer

Footnote 76

Pneumonia and influenza, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Pneumonia and influenza [J10-J18].

Return to health data footnote 76 referrer

Footnote 77

Bronchitis, emphysema and asthma, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Bronchitis, emphysema and asthma [J40-J43, J45-J46].

Return to health data footnote 77 referrer

Footnote 78

All other respiratory diseases, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). All other respiratory diseases [J00-J06, J20-J22, J30-J39, J44, J47, J60-J70, J80-J84, J85-J86, J90-J94, J95-J99].

Return to health data footnote 78 referrer

Footnote 79

Unintentional injuries, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Unintentional injuries [V01-X59, Y85-Y86].

External causes of unintentional injuries include transport accidents, falls, poisoning, drowning and fires, but not complications of medical and surgical care (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes V01 to X59, Y85 to Y86).

Return to health data footnote 79 referrer

Footnote 80

Suicides and self-inflicted injuries, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Suicides and self-inflicted injuries [X60-X84, Y87.0].

Return to health data footnote 80 referrer

Footnote 81

Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease, deaths

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2005/2007.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4309, 102-4310

Age-standardized rate of death per 100,000 population.

World Health Organization (WHO), International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision (ICD-10). Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease [B20-B24].

Return to health data footnote 81 referrer

Footnote 82

Premature mortality

Source : Statistics Canada, Canadian Vital Statistics, Death Database and Demography Division (population estimates), 2006/2008.
CANSIM table no(s).: 102-4311

Age-standardized rate of premature deaths per 100,000 population. Premature deaths are those of individuals who are younger than age 75.

Return to health data footnote 82 referrer

Footnote 83

Sense of community belonging

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502

Population aged 12 and over who reported their sense of belonging to their local community as being very strong or somewhat strong. Research shows a high correlation of sense of community-belonging with physical and mental health.

Return to health data footnote 83 referrer

Footnote 84

Life satisfaction, satisfied or very satisfied

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502

Population aged 12 and over who reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their life in general. Starting in 2009, this indicator is based on a grouped variable. In 2009, the question was changed from 5-point answer category to an 11-point scale. The concordance between the two scales was found to be good.

Return to health data footnote 84 referrer

Footnote 85

High school graduates aged 25 to 29

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

Population aged 25 to 29 years in private households who have a secondary school diploma or equivalent.

'High school certificate or equivalent' refers to whether the person has completed a secondary school diploma or the equivalent, no matter what other certificates, diplomas or degrees he or she has.

Examples of high school equivalency certificates are General Educational Development (GED) and Adult Basic Education (ABE).

Return to health data footnote 85 referrer

Footnote 86

Post-secondary graduates aged 25 to 54

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

Population aged 25 to 54 years in private households who have a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree.

Information indicating the person's most advanced certificate, diploma or degree. This is a derived variable obtained from the educational qualifications questions, which asked for all certificates, diplomas and degrees to be reported. The general hierarchy used in deriving this variable (secondary school diploma, trades, college, university) is loosely tied to the 'in-class' duration of the various types of education. At the detailed level, someone who has completed one type of certificate, diploma or degree will not necessarily have completed the credentials listed below it in the hierarchy. For example, a registered apprenticeship graduate may not have completed a high school certificate or diploma, nor does an individual with a master's degree necessarily have a 'certificate or diploma above the bachelor's level.' Although the hierarchy may not fit all programs perfectly, it gives a general measure of educational attainment.

Return to health data footnote 86 referrer

Footnote 87

Adult unemployment, 15 years and over

Source : Labour Force Survey (special tabulations), Statistics Canada, 2011.
CANSIM table no(s).: 109-5324

Proportion of the Labour force aged 15 and over who did not have a job during the reference period.

The labour force consists of people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but were available to work in the reference period and had looked for work in the past 4 four weeks. The reference period refers to a one-week period (from Sunday to Saturday) that usually includes the 15th day of the month.

The unemployment rate is a traditional measure of the economy. Unemployed people tend to experience more health problems.

Return to health data footnote 87 referrer

Footnote 88

Youth unemployment

Source : Labour Force Survey (special tabulations), Statistics Canada, 2011.
CANSIM table no(s).: 109-5324

Proportion of the Labour force for youths, aged 15 to 24 years, who did not have a job during the reference period.

The labour force consists of people who are currently employed and people who are unemployed but were available to work in the reference period and had looked for work in the past 4 four weeks. The reference period refers to a one-week period (from Sunday to Saturday) that usually includes the 15th day of the month.

The unemployment rate is a traditional measure of the economy. Unemployed people tend to experience more health problems.

Return to health data footnote 88 referrer

Footnote 89

Long-term unemployed

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

The long term unemployed includes unemployed persons in private households who last worked in or before 2010.

Return to health data footnote 89 referrer

Footnote 90

Low income rate

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

Low-income before-tax cut-offs represent income levels at which families or persons not in economic families spend 20 percentage points more than average of their before tax income on food, shelter and clothing.

Economic family refers to a group of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling and are related to each other by blood, marriage, common-law, adoption or a foster relationship. A couple may be of opposite or same sex.

The economic family concept requires only that family members be related by blood, marriage, common-law, adoption or a foster relationship. By contrast, the census family concept requires that family members be a male or female married spouse, a male or female common-law partner, a male or female lone parent, or a child with a parent present. The concept of economic family may refer to a larger group of persons than does the census family concept. For example, a widowed mother living with her married son and daughter-in-law would be considered as a person not in a census family. That same person would, however, be counted as a member of an economic family along with her son and daughter-in-law. Two or more related census families living together also constitute one economic family as, for example, a husband and his wife living with their married son and daughter-in-law. Two or more adult brothers or sisters living together, apart from their parents, form an economic family, but not a census family. All census family persons are economic family persons.

Persons not in economic families refer to household members who do not belong to an economic family, including persons living alone.

For additional information please refer to the National Household Survey Dictionary (http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/ref/dict/fam020-eng.cfm).

Return to health data footnote 90 referrer

Footnote 91

Children aged 17 and under living in low income families

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

Low-income before-tax cut-offs represent income levels at which families or persons not in economic families spend 20 percentage points more than average of their before tax income on food, shelter and clothing.

Economic family refers to a group of two or more persons who live in the same dwelling and are related to each other by blood, marriage, common-law, adoption or a foster relationship. A couple may be of opposite or same sex.

The economic family concept requires only that family members be related by blood, marriage, common-law, adoption or a foster relationship. By contrast, the census family concept requires that family members be a male or female married spouse, a male or female common-law partner, a male or female lone parent, or a child with a parent present. The concept of economic family may refer to a larger group of persons than does the census family concept. For example, a widowed mother living with her married son and daughter-in-law would be considered as a person not in a census family. That same person would, however, be counted as a member of an economic family along with her son and daughter-in-law. Two or more related census families living together also constitute one economic family as, for example, a husband and his wife living with their married son and daughter-in-law. Two or more adult brothers or sisters living together, apart from their parents, form an economic family, but not a census family. All census family persons are economic family persons.

Age refers to the age at last birthday before the reference date, that is, before May 10, 2011.

For additional information please refer to the National Household Survey Dictionary (http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/ref/dict/fam020-eng.cfm).

Return to health data footnote 91 referrer

Footnote 92

Total population

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

The number of people living in a geographic area by sex.

A population's size and age/sex composition impact the health status of a region and its need for health services. Population data also provide the 'denominators' used to calculate rates for most health and social indicators.

For more recent estimates of health region population, see CANSIM table no. 109-5325.

Please note that the most appropriate 2011 population figures for Canada, provinces and territories are the current postcensal population estimates.

Return to health data footnote 92 referrer

Footnote 93

Large urban population centre population

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

A population centre has a population of at least 1,000 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas.

Taken together, population centres and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population:

• small population centres, with a population of between 1,000 and 29,999;
• medium population centres, with a population of between 30,000 and 99,999
• large urban population centres, consisting of a population of 100,000 and over.

Rates were calculated on randomly rounded data, and may not necessarily add up to 100%.

Return to health data footnote 93 referrer

Footnote 94

Medium population centre population

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

A population centre has a population of at least 1,000 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas.

Taken together, population centres and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population:

• small population centres, with a population of between 1,000 and 29,999;
• medium population centres, with a population of between 30,000 and 99,999
• large urban population centres, consisting of a population of 100,000 and over.

Rates were calculated on randomly rounded data, and may not necessarily add up to 100%.

Return to health data footnote 94 referrer

Footnote 95

Small population centre population

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

A population centre has a population of at least 1,000 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas.

Taken together, population centres and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population:

• small population centres, with a population of between 1,000 and 29,999;
• medium population centres, with a population of between 30,000 and 99,999
• large urban population centres, consisting of a population of 100,000 and over.

Rates were calculated on randomly rounded data, and may not necessarily add up to 100%.

Return to health data footnote 95 referrer

Footnote 96

Rural area population

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

A population centre has a population of at least 1,000 and a population density of 400 persons or more per square kilometre, based on the current census population count. All areas outside population centres are classified as rural areas.

Taken together, population centres and rural areas cover all of Canada.

Population centres are classified into three groups, depending on the size of their population:

• small population centres, with a population of between 1,000 and 29,999;
• medium population centres, with a population of between 30,000 and 99,999
• large urban population centres, consisting of a population of 100,000 and over.

Rates were calculated on randomly rounded data, and may not necessarily add up to 100%.

Return to health data footnote 96 referrer

Footnote 97

Population density per square kilometre

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

Population density is the number of persons per square kilometre. The calculation for population density is total population divided by land area. Land area is the area in square kilometres of the land-based portions of standard geographic areas.

Return to health data footnote 97 referrer

Footnote 98

Dependency ratio

Source : Demography Division, Statistics Canada. Data are derived from the Census and administrative sources on births, deaths, and migration, 2011.
CANSIM table no(s).: 109-5326

The ratio of the combined population aged between 0 to 19 years old and the population aged of 65 years and over to the population aged between 20 to 64 years old.

This ratio is usually presented as the number of dependents for every 100 people in the working age population.

Return to health data footnote 98 referrer

Footnote 99

Aboriginal population

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

'Aboriginal identity' refers to whether the person reported being an Aboriginal person, that is, First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or being a Registered or Treaty Indian (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada) and/or being a member of a First Nation or Indian band. Aboriginal peoples of Canada are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.

Aboriginal identity is reported for the population in private households.

Return to health data footnote 99 referrer

Footnote 100

Immigrant population

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

Immigrant refers to a person who is or has ever been a landed immigrant/permanent resident. This person has been granted the right to live in Canada permanently by immigration authorities. Some immigrants have resided in Canada for a number of years, while others have arrived recently. Some immigrants are Canadian citizens, while others are not. Most immigrants are born outside Canada, but a small number are born in Canada. In the 2011 National Household Survey, 'Immigrants' includes immigrants who landed in Canada prior to May 10, 2011.

Immigrant status is reported for the population in private households.

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Footnote 101

1 year internal migrants

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

'Mobility status - Place of residence 1 year ago' refers to the status of a person with regard to the place of residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, in relation to the place of residence on the same date one year earlier. Persons who have not moved are referred to as non-movers and persons who have moved from one residence to another are referred to as movers. Movers include non-migrants and migrants. Non-migrants are persons who did move but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian reserve. Migrants include internal migrants who moved to a different city, town, township, village or Indian reserve within Canada. External migrants include persons who lived outside Canada at the earlier reference date.

It is reported for population aged 1 year and over residing in Canada, in private households.

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Footnote 102

5 year internal migrants

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

'Mobility status - Place of residence 5 years ago' refers to the status of a person with regard to the place of residence on the reference day, May 10, 2011, in relation to the place of residence on the same date five years earlier. Persons who have not moved are referred to as non-movers and persons who have moved from one residence to another are referred to as movers. Movers include non-migrants and migrants. Non-migrants are persons who did move but remained in the same city, town, township, village or Indian reserve. Migrants include internal migrants who moved to a different city, town, township, village or Indian reserve within Canada. External migrants include persons who lived outside Canada at the earlier reference date.'

It is reported for population aged 5 years and over residing in Canada, in private households.

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Footnote 103

Population living within a Census Metropolitan Area, a Census Agglomeration or a strong Census Metropolitan Area and Census Agglomeration Influenced Zone.

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

Strong census metropolitan area and census agglomeration influenced zones (MIZ) is the population or the proportion of the population living in census metropolitan areas (CMA), census agglomerations (CA) and communities that fall outside CMA and/or CA that have at least 30% of the employed labour force commuting to CMA and/or CA. The Statistical Area Classification (SAC) groups census subdivisions according to whether they are a component of a census metropolitan area, a census agglomeration, a census metropolitan area and census agglomeration influenced zone (strong MIZ, moderate MIZ, weak MIZ or no MIZ), or the territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut). Commuting flows are based on the 2006 Census place of work file.

A census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA) is formed by one or more adjacent municipalities centred on a population centre (known as the core). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more must live in the core. A CA must have a core population of at least 10,000. To be included in the CMA or CA, other adjacent municipalities must have a high degree of integration with the core, as measured by commuting flows derived from previous census place of work data.

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Footnote 104

Lone-parent families

Source : 2011 Census, Statistics Canada.
Related data: Not applicable

Census family refers to a married couple (with or without children of either and/or both spouses), a common-law couple (with or without children of either and/or both partners) or a lone parent of any marital status, with at least one child.

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Footnote 105

Visible minority population

Source : 2011 National Household Survey, Statistics Canada.
Global non-response rates (GNR): Canada = 26.1%, Waterloo Health Unit (HR) = 23.7%
Related data: Not applicable

Visible minority refers to whether a person belongs to a visible minority group as defined by the Employment Equity Act and, if so, the visible minority group to which the person belongs. The Employment Equity Act defines visible minorities as 'persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.' The visible minority population consists mainly of the following groups: South Asian, Chinese, Black, Filipino, Latin American, Arab, Southeast Asian, West Asian, Korean and Japanese.

Visible minority is reported for the population in private households.

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Footnote 106

Contact with a medical doctor in the past 12 months

Source : Canadian Community Health Survey, Statistics Canada, 2011/2012.
CANSIM table no(s).: 105-0502, 105-0592

Population aged 12 and over who reported having consulted with a medical doctor in the past 12 months.

Medical doctor includes family or general practitioners as well as specialists such as surgeons, allergists, orthopaedists, gynaecologists or psychiatrists. For population aged 12 to 17, includes pediatricians.

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Footnote 107

Coronary artery bypass graft

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery rate

Age-standardized rate of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery performed on inpatients in acute care hospitals per 100,000 population age 20 and over.

As with other types of surgical procedures, variations in CABG surgery rates can be attributed to numerous factors, including differences in population demographics, physician practice patterns, and availability of services. In cases amenable to treatment with less invasive procedures percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), an alternative intervention to improve blood flow to the heart muscle, may be used. Variations in the extent to which PCI is utilized may result in variations the rate of in bypass surgery.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 108

Percutaneous coronary intervention

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), CIHI; Alberta Ambulatory Care Database, Alberta Health and Wellness, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Percutaneous coronary intervention rate

Age-standardized rate of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed on patients in acute care hospitals, same day surgery facilities or catheterization laboratories, per 100,000 population age 20 years and over.

In many cases, PCI serves as a non-surgical alternative to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and is undertaken for the purpose of opening obstructed coronary arteries. While PCI encompasses several techniques, angioplasty is the procedure most frequently provided. The choice of revascularization mode (that is, PCI or CABG) depends on numerous factors including severity of coronary artery disease, physician preferences, availability of services, referral patterns, as well as differences in population health and socio-economic status.

Rates for Quebec are not available due to differences in data collection. Canada rate does not include Quebec.
Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 109

Cardiac revascularization

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), CIHI; Alberta Ambulatory Care Database, Alberta Health and Wellness, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Cardiac revascularization rate

Age-standardized rate of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery performed on inpatients in acute care hospitals or percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed on patients in acute care hospitals, same day surgery facilities or catheterization laboratories, per 100,000 population age 20 years and over.

The choice of revascularization mode (i.e., PCI or CABG) depends on numerous factors including severity of coronary artery disease, physician preferences, availability of services, referral patterns, as well as differences in population health and socio-economic status. The combined cardiac revascularization rate represents total activity of cardiac revascularization in a jurisdiction.

Rates for Quebec are not available due to differences in data collection. Canada rate does not include Quebec.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 110

Hip replacement

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Hip replacement rate

Age-standardized rate of unilateral or bilateral hip replacement surgery performed on inpatients in acute care hospitals per 100,000 population age 20 years and over.

Hip replacement surgery has the potential to result in considerable improvement in functional status, pain relief, as well as other gains in health-related quality of life. Over the past two decades, rates of surgery have increased substantially. Wide inter-regional variation in the hip replacement rate may be attributable to numerous factors including the availability of services, provider practice patterns, and patient preferences.

Beginning with 2005/2006, this indicator is calculated for the population age 20 years and over and therefore is not comparable with rates reported for previous years. Rates for the previous years, calculated using the new definition, are presented to enable comparisons over time.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 111

Knee replacement

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Knee replacement rate

Age-standardized rate of unilateral or bilateral knee replacement surgery performed on patients in acute care hospitals or same-day surgery facilities, per 100,000 population age 20 years and over.

Knee replacement surgery has the potential to result in considerable improvement in functional status, pain relief, as well as other gains in health-related quality of life. Over the past two decades, rates of surgery have increased substantially. Wide inter-regional variation in the knee replacement rate may be attributable to numerous factors including the availability of services, provider practice patterns, and patient preferences.

Beginning with 2005/2006, this indicator is calculated for the population aged 20 years and older and includes same day surgery procedures, and therefore is not comparable with rates reported for previous years. Rates for the previous years, calculated using the new definition, are presented to enable comparisons over time.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 112

Hysterectomy

Source : DAD, NACRS, CIHI; Alberta Ambulatory Care Database, Alberta Health and Wellness; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Hysterectomy rate

Age-standardized rate for hysterectomy provided to inpatients in acute care hospitals, per 100,000 women age 20 and over.

Utilization rates may reflect the level of uncertainty about the appropriate use of this surgical procedure. The "right" level of utilization is not known.

Beginning with 2006/2007 data, hysterectomy rates include both total and sub-total hysterectomies, similar to the reporting prior to 2001/2002 data.  Sub-total hysterectomy was not uniquely identified in the Canadian Classification of Health Interventions (CCI) versions 2001 and 2003, therefore hysterectomy rates reported for 2001/2002 to 2005/2006 fiscal years included only total hysterectomies. Identification of sub-total hysterectomies became possible again with version 2006 of CCI. For jurisdictions with higher volumes of sub-total hysterectomies comparability with the previous years might be affected.

Beginning with 2005/2006 data, this indicator includes same day surgery procedures. However, due to small counts of same day surgery procedures, comparability with the previous years is not affected.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

DAD: Discharge Abstract Database

NACRS: National Ambulatory Care Reporting System

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Footnote 113

Inflow/outflow ratio - Overall

Source : DAD, NACRS, CIHI; Alberta Ambulatory Care Database, Alberta Health and Wellness; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Inflow/Outflow ratio (Overall)

A ratio of the number of discharges from relevant facilities (acute care/same day surgery) within a given region divided by the number of discharges generated by residents of that region. An overall ratio is calculated for discharges associated with any diagnosis or procedure for acute care discharges only, and separately for hip replacement, knee replacement, hysterectomy, percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary artery bypass surgery procedures from all relevant facilities.

This indicator reflects the balance between the quantity of hospital stays provided to both residents and non-residents by all acute care hospitals in a given region and the extent of acute care utilization by residents of that region, whether they receive care within or out of the region. A ratio less than one indicates that hospital stays utilized by residents of a region exceeded hospital care provided within that region, suggesting an outflow effect. A ratio greater than one indicates hospital stays provided by a region exceeded the quantity of stays utilized by its residents, suggesting an inflow effect. A ratio of one indicates that the volume of hospital discharges in the region is equivalent to that generated by its residents, suggesting that inflow and outflow activity, if it exists at all, is balanced.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

DAD: Discharge Abstract Database

NACRS: National Ambulatory Care Reporting System

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Footnote 114

Mental illness hospitalization rate

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec, April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Mental illness hospitalization rate

Age-standardized rate of separations from general hospitals through discharge or death following a hospitalization for a selected mental illness¹, per 100,000 population.

Hospitalization rate is a partial measure of general hospital utilization. It does not include inpatients who were using hospital services but had not yet been discharged within the fiscal year of interest. This indicator may reflect differences between jurisdictions, such as the health of the population, differing health service delivery models and variations in the availability and accessibility of specialized, residential and/or ambulatory and community-based services.

Monitoring hospital service use captures only the relatively small proportion of individuals who are acutely ill and require in-hospital treatment, compared to the much larger contingent that receives (or fails to receive) outpatient or community services. For these reasons, this indicator cannot be used to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in the general population.

While this indicator does not include data from free-standing psychiatric facilities, it is acknowledged that in some jurisdictions (for example, Alberta) direct substitution between general and psychiatric facilities exists; the extent of this practice is unknown. As such, this indicator provides a partial view of hospital utilization for mental health issues in an acute setting.

¹The mental illnesses selected for this indicator are substance-related disorders; schizophrenia, delusional and non-organic psychotic disorders; mood/affective disorders; anxiety disorders; and selected disorders of adult personality and behaviour.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 115

Mental illness patient days

Source : Discharge Abstract Database (DAD), Ontario Mental Health Reporting System (OMHRS), CIHI; Fichier des hospitalisations MED-ÉCHO, ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux du Québec; April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012.
Related data: Mental illness patient days

Age-adjusted rate of total number of days in general hospitals for selected mental illness¹, per 10,000 population.

The patient days rate is a partial measure of general hospital utilization. It does not include patients who were admitted to hospital but had not yet been discharged within the fiscal year of interest. Patient-days are influenced by the number of hospitalizations and the length of stay. For the same number of hospitalizations, the rate of patient days will increase as length of stay increases. This indicator may reflect differences between jurisdictions, such as the health of the population, differing health service delivery models and variations in the availability of and accessibility to specialized, residential and/or ambulatory and community-based health services.

While this indicator does not include data from free-standing psychiatric facilities, it is acknowledged that in some jurisdictions (for example, Alberta) direct substitution between general and psychiatric facilities exists; the extent of this practice is unknown. As such, this indicator provides a partial view of hospital utilization for mental health issues in an acute setting.

¹The mental illnesses selected for this indicator are substance-related disorders; schizophrenia, delusional and non-organic psychotic disorders; mood/affective disorders; anxiety disorders; and selected disorders of adult personality and behaviour.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 116

Doctors rate - General/family physicians

Source : Scott's Medical Database, CIHI; January 1st, 2011 to December 31, 2012.
Related data: Doctors

Physician counts include all active physicians as of December 31 of the reference year. Physicians in clinical and non-clinical practice are included. Residents and unlicensed physicians who have requested that their information not be published are excluded. Generally, specialist physicians include certificants of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and/or the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) with the exception of Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Yukon, where specialists also include physicians who are licensed as specialists but who are not certified by the RCPSC or the CMQ (that is, non-certified specialists). For all other jurisdictions non-certified specialists are counted as general practitioners with the exception of the criteria just noted, all other physicians are counted as family practitioners, including certificants of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. For further information on physician count methodologies please see CIHI's reports on the “Supply, Distribution and Migration of Canadian Physicians” and “Certified and Non-Certified Specialists: Understanding the Numbers” (www.cihi.ca).

Physician-to-population rates are useful indicators and are published by a variety of agencies to support health human resource planning. However, due to differences in data collection, processing and reporting methodology, CIHI results may differ from provincial and territorial data. Readers are cautioned to avoid inferences regarding the adequacy of provider resources based on supply ratios alone.

Note: Scott's Medical Database (SMDB) information may undercount physicians due to Provincial/Territorial licensing authority data supply interruptions. SMDB data does not reflect licensing authority updates for the following jurisdictions and years: British Columbia 2004; Québec 2003; Ontario 2002; Alberta and the Yukon 2000.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

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Footnote 117

Doctors rate - Specialist physicians

Source : Scott's Medical Database, CIHI; January 1st, 2011 to December 31, 2012.
Related data: Specialist physicians

Physician counts include all active physicians as of December 31 of the reference year. Physicians in clinical and non-clinical practice are included. Residents and unlicensed physicians who have requested that their information not be published are excluded. Generally, specialist physicians include certificants of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and/or the Collège des médecins du Québec (CMQ) with the exception of Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Yukon, where specialists also include physicians who are licensed as specialists but who are not certified by the RCPSC or the CMQ (that is, non-certified specialists). For all other jurisdictions non-certified specialists are counted as general practitioners with the exception of the criteria just noted, all other physicians are counted as family practitioners, including certificants of the College of Family Physicians of Canada. For further information on physician count methodologies please see CIHI's reports on the “Supply, Distribution and Migration of Canadian Physicians” and “Certified and Non-Certified Specialists: Understanding the Numbers” (www.cihi.ca).

Physician-to-population rates are useful indicators and are published by a variety of agencies to support health human resource planning. However, due to differences in data collection, processing and reporting methodology, CIHI results may differ from provincial and territorial data. Readers are cautioned to avoid inferences regarding the adequacy of provider resources based on supply ratios alone.

Note: Scott's Medical Database (SMDB) information may undercount physicians due to Provincial/Territorial licensing authority data supply interruptions. SMDB data does not reflect licensing authority updates for the following jurisdictions and years: British Columbia 2004; Québec 2003; Ontario 2002; Alberta and the Yukon 2000.

Refer to the technical notes for more details.

CIHI: Canadian Institute for Health Information

Return to health data footnote 117 referrer