Abstract
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
For this article...
-
Background
-
Keywords
-
Findings
-
Authors
-
What is already known on this subject?
-
What does this study add?
Background
Mechanisms underlying gender disparities in functional limitations among people with arthritis remain unclear. This study examined gender differences in the relationship between disease duration and comorbidity and functional limitations among people with arthritis
Data and methods
Data were from the arthritis component of the 2009 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada. People were considered to have functional limitations if they reported that arthritis limits them "a lot" in activities of daily living. Those with no functional limitations were the reference group. Gender-stratified weighted multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were conducted.
Results
In a fully adjusted multivariate analysis, only among women was time elapsed since the arthritis diagnosis associated with functional limitations. Disabling and life-threatening chronic conditions were associated with functional limitations in both genders. Among men, obesity and low household income were associated with higher odds of functional limitations, while living in British Columbia was associated with decreased odds. For women, smoking, not engaging in physical activity, residing in a non-Atlantic province, and having excess weight increased the odds of functional limitations, while habitual alcohol drinking decreased the odds.
Interpretation
Gender differences in the risks of reporting functional limitations were significant. These differences appear to be driven by duration of having arthritis, and disparities in health behavioural factors, household income and region of residence. The association between chronic conditions and functional limitations was similar for men and women.
Keywords
arthritis, activity limitations, functional limitations
Findings
Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses in Canada. It is a major cause of functional limitations, dependency and health care use, and a contributing factor in lower participation in the labour force and in other activities. In 2008, an estimated 15% of Canadians aged 12 or older—about 4 million people— reported having been diagnosed with arthritis. The numbers are projected to increase to 20% (6.7 million) for people aged 15 or older by 2031. [Full Text]
Author
D. Walter Rasugu Omariba (1-613-951-6528; walter.omariba@statcan.gc.ca) is with the Health Analysis Division at Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6.
What is already known on this subject?
- Arthritis is one of the most prevalent chronic illnesses in Canada and a leading cause of functional limitations.
- Although gender disparities in functional limitations among people with arthritis are well documented, the underlying reasons are less well understood.
What does this study add?
- The data focus exclusively on people with arthritis, and thus allow a more thorough examination of issues related to the disease.
- Obese men and those in low-income households faced higher risks of having functional limitations compared with those of normal weight and those in high-income households.
- Men in British Columbia had lower odds of functional limitations compared with men in the Atlantic region.
- Women who were smokers, did not engage in physical activity, resided in a non-Atlantic province, and had excess weight had higher odds of functional limitations compared with women who did not smoke, engaged in physical activity, lived in the Atlantic region, and had normal weight.
- Date modified: