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Chronic diseases and risk factors in Canada's northern populations: longitudinal and geographic comparisons

Kathleen N Deering1, Lisa M Lix, Sharon Bruce

  • 1School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC. kdeering@interchange.ubc.ca

Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Sante Publique
|March 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Northern Canadians reported lower chronic disease rates but higher obesity and smoking. Chronic disease prevalence increased in both northern and southern Canada from 2000-2005, necessitating ongoing monitoring and prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Services Research

Background:

  • Chronic diseases represent a significant global health burden and strain healthcare systems.
  • Understanding regional disparities in chronic disease prevalence is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Northern Canadian populations face unique health challenges that warrant specific investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and compare the self-reported prevalence of major chronic diseases and risk factors between northern and southern Canadian populations.
  • To analyze trends in chronic disease prevalence in these regions over time.
  • To identify disparities in chronic disease risk factors between northern and southern Canada.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data from cycles 1.1 (2000/01) and 3.1 (2005).
  • Analyzed data for adults (≥20 years) in Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut (northern sample) versus the rest of Canada (southern sample).
  • Calculated unadjusted and adjusted prevalence estimates and confidence intervals, testing for significance using z-tests.

Main Results:

  • Northern Canadians reported lower crude prevalence of hypertension, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke compared to southern Canadians.
  • After adjusting for age and sex, northern Canadians had lower adjusted prevalence of any chronic disease but higher adjusted prevalence of obesity and smoking.
  • Chronic disease prevalence significantly increased in both northern and southern Canada between 2000/01 and 2005.

Conclusions:

  • Higher prevalence of key chronic disease risk factors (obesity, smoking) in northern Canada requires attention.
  • Increasing chronic disease prevalence in both regions underscores the need for continuous monitoring.
  • Development of tailored prevention and management strategies is essential for both northern and southern Canadian populations.
Abstract

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