1.0 Health status

1.1 Well-being

Definition: Population who rate their own health status.

Sources: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file; Statistics Canada, National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (0 to 11 years of age), 1994/95.

1.1.2 Self-rated health as 'very good' or 'excellent' for two or more consecutive survey cycles

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who rate their own health status as "very good" or "excellent" for two or more consecutive survey cycles.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, longitudinal sample, health file

1.1.3 Self esteem

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who rate their sense of self-worth, which is based on a standard scale.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, cross sectional sample, health file

1.2 Health conditions

1.2.1 Body mass index (BMI-Canadian standard)

Definition: Body mass index (BMI-Canadian standard) is calculated as follows: weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.

The index is: under 20 (underweight), 20-24.9 (acceptable weight), 25-26.9 (some excess weight) and 27 or higher (overweight). The index is calculated for those aged 20 to 64 excluding pregnant women and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres).

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.2.2 Body mass index (International standard)

Definition: Body mass index (BMI-International standard) is calculated as follows: weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.

The index is: under 18.5 (underweight), 18.5-24.9 (acceptable weight), 25-29.9 (overweight) and 30 or higher (obese). The index is calculated for those aged 20 to 64 excluding pregnant women and persons less than 3 feet (0.914 metres) tall or greater than 6 feet 11 inches (2.108 metres).

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.2.3 Arthritis/rheumatism

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who report that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having arthritis or rheumatism. These data are not available for age 11 and under.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.2.4 Diabetes

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who report that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having diabetes. These data are not available for age 11 and under.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.2.5 Asthma

Definition: Population aged 4 and over who report that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having asthma.

Sources: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file; Statistics Canada, National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (asthma for 4 to 11 years of age), 1994/95

1.2.6 High blood pressure

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who report that they have been diagnosed by a health professional as having high blood pressure. These data are not available for age 11 and under.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.2.7 Chronic pain - affects activities

Definition: Population aged 4 and over who report having pain or discomfort which prevents or limits certain activities on a continuing basis.

Sources: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file; Statistics Canada, National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (4 to 11 years of age), 1994/95

1.2.8 Chronic pain - severity

Definition: Population aged 4 and over who answered "yes" or "no" when asked if they were usually free of pain or discomfort. Severity of pain is measured as severe, moderate or mild.

Sources: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file; Statistics Canada, National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (4 to 11 years of age), 1994/95

1.2.9 Depression

Definition: Population aged 12 and over who show symptoms of depression, based on their responses to a set of questions that establishes the probability of suffering a "major depressive episode".

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.2.10 Low birth weight

Definition: Proportion of live births (birth weight known) less than 2,500 grams.

Low birth weight is a key determinant of infant survival, health, and development. Low birth weight infants are at a greater risk of having a disability and for diseases such as cerebral palsy, visual problems, learning disabilities and respiratory problems.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Birth Database, and l'Institut de la statistique du Qu�bec (supplementary files).

1.2.11, 1.2.12, 1.2.13, 1.2.14, 1.2.15 Cancer incidence

Definition: Age-standardized rate of new primary sites of cancer (malignant neoplasms) per 100,000 population, for all cancers (ICD-9 140-208) and for specific sites: colorectal (ICD-9 153-154), lung (ICD-9 162), female breast (ICD-9 174), and prostate cancer (ICD-9 185).

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Cancer Database, Canadian Cancer Registry and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.2.16 Injury hospitalizations

Definition: Age-standardized rate of acute care inpatient hospitalization due to injuries resulting from the transfer of energy, per 100,000 population.

(Cause of injury is reported by the first-documented External Causes of Injury Code (E Code) as follows: E800-E807, E810 -E838, E840-E848, E880-E888, E890-E902, E906-E910, E913-E928, E953-E958, E960-E961, E963-E968, E970-E976, E978, E983-E988, E990-E998). 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.

Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information, National Trauma Registry

1.3 Human function

1.3.1 Functional health

Definition: Population aged 4 and over reporting measures of overall functional health, based on 8 dimensions of functioning (hearing, seeing, communicating, mobility, dexterity, pain, cognition and emotion).

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.3.2 Two-week disability days

Definition: Population who stayed in bed or cut down on normal activities because of illness or injury, on one or more days in the past two weeks.

Source: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file

1.3.3 Activity limitation

Definition: Population aged 4 and over who report having a disability or handicap or being limited in certain activities on a continuing basis because of a health problem.

Sources: Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file; Statistics Canada, National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (4 to 11 years of age), 1994/95

1.3.4 Disability-free life expectancy

Definition: 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.

Disability-free life expectancy is a more comprehensive indicator than that of life expectancy because it introduces the concept of quality of life. It is used to distinguish between years of life free of any activity limitation and years experienced with at least one activity limitation. To that end, disability-free life expectancy establishes a threshold based on the nature of such limitations. Years of life lived in conditions above this threshold are counted in full. Those lived in conditions below the threshold are not counted. Thus, the emphasis is not exclusively on the length of life, as is the case for life expectancy, but also on the quality of life.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, Demography Division (population estimates), and the 1996 Census (20% sample)

1.4 Deaths

1.4.1 Infant mortality

Definition: Number of infants who die in the first year of life, 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. 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.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Birth and Death Databases

1.4.2 Perinatal mortality

Definition: Annual number of stillbirths and early neonatal deaths (deaths in the first week of life) per 1,000 total births (includes stillbirths). Stillbirths are defined here as gestational age of 28 or more weeks. Unknown gestational age is excluded in both numerator and denominator.

The probability that a fetus considered to be viable will be stillborn or will die before the end of the first week of life. Reflects standards of obstetric and pediatric care, as well as the effectiveness of public health initiatives.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Birth, Death and Stillbirth Databases

1.4.3 Life expectancy

Definition: 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.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.4 Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL)

Definition: Potential years of life lost are calculated by taking the median age in each age group, subtracting from 75, and multiplying by the number of deaths in that age group disaggregated by sex and cause of death.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.5 Total mortality

Definition: Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of death from all causes (ICD-9 001-799, E800-E999) per 100,000 population. Indicates the overall health of the population and is similar to what is measured by life expectancy.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.6, 1.4.7, 1.4.8, 1.4.9 All circulatory disease deaths

Definition: Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of death from circulatory diseases per 100,000 population: all circulatory diseases (ICD-9 390-459), ischaemic heart disease (ICD-9 410-414), cerebrovascular diseases (stroke) (ICD-9 430-438) and all other circulatory diseases (ICD-9 390-409, 415-429, 439-459).

Measures long-term success in reducing deaths due to circulatory disease, compared with other regions, provinces, and countries. Lower death rates indicate success in circulatory disease prevention, detection, and treatment.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.10, 1.4.11, 1.4.12, 1.4.13, 1.4.14 All cancer deaths (malignant neoplasms)

Definition: Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of death from cancer per 100,000 population, for all cancers (ICD-9 140-208) and for specific sites: colorectal (ICD-9 153-154), lung (ICD-9 162), female breast (ICD-9 174), and prostate cancer (ICD-9 185).

Measures long-term success in reducing deaths due to cancer, compared with other regions, provinces, and countries. Lower death rates indicate success in cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.15, 1.4.16, 1.4.17, 1.4.18 All respiratory disease deaths

Definition: Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of death from respiratory disease per 100,000 population, for all respiratory diseases (ICD-9 460-519), pneumonia and influenza (ICD-9 480-487), bronchitis/emphysema/asthma (ICD-9 490-493), and all other respiratory diseases (ICD-9 460-479, 488-489, 494-519).

Measures long-term success in reducing deaths due to respiratory disease, compared with other regions, provinces, and countries. Lower death rates indicate success in respiratory disease prevention, detection, and treatment.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.19 Suicide

Definition: Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of suicide death (ICD-9 E950-E959) per 100,000 population. Measures long-term success in reducing suicide, a social as well as a major public health concern.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.20 Unintentional injury deaths

Definition: Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of death from unintentional injuries per 100,000 population. Unintentional ("accidental") injuries includes injuries due to causes such as motor vehicle collisions, falls, drowning, burns, and poisoning, but not medical misadventures/complications (ICD-9 E800-E929, excluding E870-E879).

Measures long-term success in reducing deaths due to unintentional injuries, compared with other regions, provinces, and countries. Measures the adequacy and effectiveness of injury prevention efforts, including public education, community and road design, prevention, emergency care, and treatment resources.

Sources: Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division (population estimates)

1.4.21 AIDS deaths

Definition: Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of deaths due to AIDS and HIV infections (ICD-9 042-044) per 100,000 population.

Measures success in preventing and treating AIDS and HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the agent that causes AIDS). Information on deaths can be used to estimate the number of persons living with HIV/AIDS, as well as the impact of treatment.