What's new in this issue

View the most recent version.

Health Indicators print publication

This release of the Health Indicators e-pub coincides with the Health Indicators 2009 print publication, highlighting the most recently available information about the health system and the health of the population in Canada’s health regions, provinces and territories.

This report celebrates the 10^th anniversary of the Health Indicators project, presenting national trends over time for selected indicators with a focus on the following six themes: heart attacks and cardiac revascularization; stroke; women’s health and men’s health—selected surgical procedures; hip fractures; joint replacements; and preventing hospital admissions. The aim of this information is to assist stakeholders and decision makers in the use and interpretation of the indicator data.

The latest report, along with previous reports in the annual series can be accessed from the new Analysis section of this publication.

Fact Sheets

A series of fact sheets have been developed for a selection of indicators, featuring the latest data from the CCHS. These provide 1-2 page summaries of key findings including graphs to aid in the interpretation of data tables available. Fact Sheets can be accessed from the Analysis section as well as the Data Tables and Maps section. Additional Fact Sheets will be produced for the remaining indicators with future issues.

Release of the new Health Profile

This release of the e-pub also coincides with the launching of the new Health Profile. This product features the latest available health region level data from various sources including Statistics Canada's health surveys, administrative data, and the census of population. The application is designed to give quick access to the latest health-related data available for a selected health region, providing the corresponding provincial data by default, but users can easily select any region of choice for comparison.

New indicators introduced with this issue

• Hospitalized acute myocardial infarction event rate
• Hospitalized hip fracture event rate
• Hospitalized stroke event rate
• Colorectal cancer screening
• Life satisfaction
• Mood disorders

Updates to existing indicators

• Rates for all Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) indicators are now calculated by excluding non-response categories (refusal, don’t know and not stated) from the denominator.
  
  
• Different period estimates (one year and two year combined data) are now produced for most indicators based on CCHS core content. See the Health Indicator Profiles section for additional details.
  
  
• The denominator for heavy drinking includes all the population aged 12 and over. Previously, the denominator included only the population who reported having had at least one drink in the past 12 months.
  
  
• The mammography indicator has been redefined to include all reasons for having a mammogram.  Previously, this indicator attempted to capture “screening” mammography; however, the questionnaire does not allow a specific reason to be associated with the most recent mammogram.
  
  
• Two indicators related to breastfeeding (breastfeeding initiation, and exclusive breastfeeding for at least 6 months) have been updated with CCHS data from 2003 to 2008.
  
  
• Indicators based on optional content (self esteem, decision latitude at work, social support) have been dropped.
  
  
• Finally, health region peer groups have been redefined based on 2006 Census data.