Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort, 2016
Released: 2023-11-23
The Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs) are population-based probabilistically linked datasets that can be used to examine health outcomes by population characteristics. The 2016 CanCHEC released today combines long-form respondents to the 2016 Census of Population with new administrative health data (e.g., mortality, hospitalizations, ambulatory care and mental health).
More information about the CanCHECs can be found at Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts (CanCHECs).
To demonstrate the utility of the CanCHECs, this release provides the results of an analysis using mortality data. According to the CanCHECs, five-year age-standardized mortality rates have generally fallen over time. However, this decline has not been equal across all income and education levels of Canadians (tables 13-10-0759-01 and 13-10-0760-01). Between the 2011 and 2016 cohorts, the inequalities in mortality rates widened for both sexes.
Differences in mortality between the highest and lowest income quintiles increased for males and females between the 2011 and 2016 cohorts
The five-year mortality rates for the 2011 cohort were lower than those for the 1991 cohort at all income levels. Mortality rates continued to decline between the 2011 and 2016 cohorts for the three highest income quintiles but not for those in the two lowest quintiles.
People in the second-lowest income quintile in 2016 had similar mortality rates as those in the same quintile in the previous cohort (2011). However, people in the lowest income quintile in the 2016 cohort (1106.8 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk) had higher mortality rates than those in the lowest quintile in the 2011 cohort (1053.2).
Inequalities in mortality between the lowest and highest income quintiles widened for the 2016 cohort compared with the 2011 cohort, from a difference of 430.2 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk for the 2011 cohort to 520.3 for the 2016 cohort. This five-year mortality difference is likely related to increased mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis.
Between the 2011 and 2016 cohorts, mortality rates increased for females without a high school diploma but not for females with other levels of education
The five-year mortality rates for the 2011 cohort decreased across all education levels compared with the 1991 cohort. However, this did not continue with the 2016 cohort.
Mortality rates for males at each level of education in 2016 remained at similar levels as those in 2011. Mortality rates for females without a high school diploma in the 2016 cohort (887.7 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk) increased compared with the 2011 cohort (838.3), but they were similar among other education levels.
The difference in mortality rates between those with a university degree or higher and those with no high school diploma in the respective cohort year increased. For males, the difference in mortality rates grew from 605 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk for the 2011 cohort to 646.4 for the 2016 cohort. For females, the difference in mortality rates increased from 378.3 deaths for the 2011 cohort to 434.8 deaths for the 2016 cohort.
Note to readers
The 2016 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohort (CanCHEC) combines long-form respondents to the 2016 Census with Canadian Vital Statistics – Deaths from 2016 to 2021, the Discharge Abstract Database from 2000/2001 to 2021/2022, the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System from 2002/2003 to 2021/2022, the Ontario Mental Health Reporting System from 2006/2007 to 2021/2022, and annual historical postal codes from 1981 to 2020.
These tables were based on six CanCHEC cohorts (1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016), which are representative of the non-institutional household population at the 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 2016 are based on deaths that occurred from 2016 to 2021.
Details about the methodology, definitions and in-depth analysis exploring income and education as social determinants of health can be found in the previously published companion paper, "Trends in mortality inequalities among the adult household population" (82-003-X).
The previous release date of tables 13-10-0759-01 and 13-10-0760-01 was December 18, 2019.
Contact 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; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).
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