Health Reports: Gaps in longevity persist across different population groups in Canada
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Released: 2019-12-18
Not all Canadians enjoy the same level of health. Income, education and Indigenous identity have all been associated with differences in health status. According to the World Health Organization, when there is a difference that is largely avoidable, it is considered a health inequality. Since it is a priority in Canada to reduce inequalities, it is important to routinely measure health status, including mortality. Now, a new dataset called the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs) makes it possible to measure inequalities over time.
A new study, released today in Health Reports, uses the CanCHECs to examine the longevity of the Indigenous population. Results show that life expectancy was substantially and consistently shorter for First Nations people, Métis and Inuit, compared with non-Indigenous Canadians across all time periods (1996 to 2011).
In 2011, a 1-year-old First Nations child could expect to live an additional 75.2 years—9.1 years less than a non-Indigenous child of the same age. Life expectancy at age 1 was 79.5 years for Métis and 73.0 years for Inuit. Compared with the non-Indigenous population, that is about 4.8 years less for Métis and 11.3 years less for Inuit.
A second study, also released today, uses the CanCHECs to examine mortality rates by income and education levels over time. Results show that although mortality rates have fallen over time, this decline has not been equal across all income and education levels. This has led to a widening of inequalities between the highest and lowest income and education groups for both men and women.
In 1991, men with less than a high school diploma had a death rate 50% higher than men with a university degree. By 2011, this inequality had widened to 90%. In 1991, the death rate was 40% higher for women with less than a high school diploma compared with women with a university degree. By 2011, this inequality increased to 80%.
The CanCHECs are described in detail in a third study also released today.
Note to readers
These studies were based on the Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs), which are representative of the non-institutional household population at time of census collection. Users should note changes in question wording and mode of collection when interpreting results.
There was a five-year mortality follow-up period for each CanCHEC. For example, estimates for 2011 are based on deaths that occurred between 2011 and 2016.
Products
The articles "Life expectancy of First Nations, Métis and Inuit household populations in Canada," "Trends in mortality inequalities among the adult household population," and "Cohort profile: The Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs)," are now available in the December 2019 online issue of Health Reports, Vol. 30, no. 12 (Catalogue number 82-003-X).
Additional data tables on age standardized mortality rates by household income and provinces, and by educational attainment, provinces and territories combined are also available.
A video describing CanCHECs, "Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts: Creation of a new health surveillance program," was also released today.
Contact information
To enquire about "Life expectancy of First Nations, Métis and Inuit household populations in Canada", contact Michael Tjepkema (michael.tjepkema@canada.ca), Health Analysis Division.
To enquire about "Cohort profile: The Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs)," contact Michael Tjepkema (michael.tjepkema@canada.ca), Health Analysis Division.
To enquire about "Trends in mortality inequalities among the adult household population," contact Emma Marshall-Catlin (emarshall-catlin@cihi.ca), Canadian Institute for Health Information.
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
For more information about Health Reports, contact Janice Felman (613-799-7746; janice.felman@canada.ca), Health Analysis Division.
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