Asthma, 2010
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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that causes coughing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing. Quality of life can be affected not only by asthma attacks, but also by absences from work and limitations in other activities1.
In 2010, 8.5% of Canadians aged 12 and older reported that they had been diagnosed with asthma by a health professional. This rate did not change significantly from 2001 to 2010.
Throughout this period, females were more likely than males to report that they had asthma. In 2010, the rate was 9.8% for females compared with 7.1% for males (Chart 1).
Chart 1
Percentage diagnosed with asthma, by sex, household population aged 12 or older, Canada, 2001 to 2010
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010.
Females were more likely than males to have asthma in all age groups, with the exception of those aged 12 to 19, and those aged 75 and older. There was no significant difference between the sexes for these two age groups (Chart 2).
Among males, the youngest age group had the highest rate of asthma and the second youngest age group had the second highest rate. The rates for females did not drop off at age 20 as the male rates did.
Chart 2
Percentage diagnosed with asthma, by age group and sex, household population aged 12 or older, Canada, 2010
Source: Canadian Community Health Survey, 2010.
The proportion of residents who reported having asthma was lower than the national average in British Columbia (7.5%). In the other provinces and territories, the rates were about the same as the national average.
End note
- Chen, Yue, Helen Johansen, Satha Thillaiampalam and Christie Sambell, 2005, "Asthma." Health Reports. Vol. 16, no. 2. March. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. page 43. /studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2005/7790-eng.pdf (accessed May 10, 2010).
Reference
Chen, Yue, Helen Johansen, Satha Thillaiampalam and Christie Sambell, 2005, "Asthma." Health Reports. Vol. 16, no. 2. March. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 82-003. page 43–46. /studies-etudes/82-003/archive/2005/7790-eng.pdf (accessed May 10, 2010).
Data
Additional data from the Canadian Community Health Survey are available from CANSIM table 105–0501 and summary tables Asthma, by age group and sex and Asthma, by sex, provinces and territories.
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