Health Indicators, vol. 2001, no. 3 
Definitions and data Sources
Health Status
Well-being
Health conditions
Human function
Deaths
Well-being
Self-rated health
Definition:
Population who rate their own health status as being either excellent,
very good, good, fair or poor.
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
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. Consecutive survey cycles are taken two years apart.
Source:
Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97
and 1998/99, longitudinal sample, health file
Self esteem
Definition:
Level of perceived self-worth reported by persons aged 12 and over, based
on their responses to six questions.
Source:
Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, cross sectional
sample, health file
Health conditions
Body mass index (BMI-Canadian standard)
Definition:
Body mass index (BMI-Canadian standard), which relates weight to height,
is a common method of determining if an individual’s weight is in a healthy
range based on their height. BMI is calculated as follows: weight in kilograms
divided by height in metres squared.
The index is: under 20 (underweight), 20-24.9 (acceptable weight), 25-27.0
(some excess weight) and greater than 27(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
Body mass index (BMI-International standard)
Definition:
Body mass index (BMI-International standard), which relates weight to
height, is a common method of determining if an individual’s weight is
in a healthy range based on their height. BMI 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
Arthritis/rheumatism
Definition:
Population aged 12 and over who report that they have been diagnosed by
a health professional as having arthritis or rheumatism.
Source:
Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97
and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file
Diabetes
Definition:
Population aged 12 and over who report that they have been diagnosed by
a health professional as having diabetes.
Source:
Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97
and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file
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
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.
Source:
Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97
and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file
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
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
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
Low birth weight
Definition:
Live births less than 2,500 grams, expressed as a percentage of all live
births (birth weight known).
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
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)
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
Human function
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). A score of 0.8 to 1.0
is considered to be very good or perfect health; scores below 0.8 are
considered to indicate moderate or severe functional health problems.
Source:
Statistics Canada, National Population Health Survey, 1994/95, 1996/97
and 1998/99, cross sectional sample, health file
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
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 (at least
6 months) 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
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)
Deaths
Infant mortality
Definition:
Infants who die in the first year of life, expressed as a count and 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
Perinatal mortality
Definition:
Count and rate 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. Stillbirths with
unknown gestational age are excluded.
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
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)
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)
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)
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)
All respiratory disease deaths
Definition:
Crude count, crude rate and age-standardized rate of death from respiratory
diseases 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)
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)
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)
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.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division
(population estimates)
Total mortality Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL)
rate
Definition:
Potential years of life lost (PYLL) (total mortality) is the number of
years of life "lost" when a person dies "prematurely" from any
cause – before age 75. A person dying at age 25, for example, has lost
50 years of life.
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. These
data are presented as a rate per 100,000 population.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division
(population estimates)
All cancer deaths Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL)
rate
Definition:
Potential years of life lost (PYLL) (all malignant neoplasms, ICD-9 140-208)
is the number of years of life "lost" when a person dies "prematurely"
from any cancer – before age 75. A person dying at age 25, for example,
has lost 50 years of life.
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. These
data are presented as a rate per 100,000 population.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division
(population estimates)
All circulatory disease deaths Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) rate
Definition:
Potential years of life lost (PYLL) (all circulatory disease deaths, ICD-9
390-459) is the number of years of life "lost" when a person dies "prematurely"
from any circulatory disease – before age 75. A person dying at age 25,
for example, has lost 50 years of life.
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. These
data are presented as a rate per 100,000 population.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division
(population estimates)
All respiratory disease deaths Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) rate
Definition:
Potential years of life lost (PYLL) (all respiratory disease deaths, ICD-9
460-519) is the number of years of life "lost" when a person dies "prematurely"
from any respiratory disease – before age 75. A person dying at age 25,
for example, has lost 50 years of life.
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. These
data are presented as a rate per 100,000 population.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division
(population estimates)
Unintentional injury deaths Potential Years of Life
Lost (PYLL) rate
Definition:
Potential years of life lost (PYLL) (unintentional injuries, ICD-9 E800-E929,
excluding E870-E879) is the number of years of life "lost" when a person
dies "prematurely" from unintentional injuries – before age 75. A person
dying at age 25, for example, has lost 50 years of life.
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. These
data are presented as a rate per 100,000 population.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division
(population estimates)
Suicide Potential Years of Life Lost (PYLL) rate
Definition:
Potential years of life lost (PYLL) (suicides, ICD-9 E950-E959) is the
number of years of life "lost" when a person dies "prematurely" from suicide
– before age 75. A person dying at age 25, for example, has lost 50 years
of life.
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. These
data are presented as a rate per 100,000 population.
Sources:
Statistics Canada, Vital Statistics, Death Database, and Demography Division
(population estimates)
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