Diabetes in Canada

MAIN DATA SOURCES

National Population Health Survey (NPHS), 1994-95

• Health File

  The NPHS was initiated in 1994 by Statistics Canada and will be repeated every two years. Data were collected quarterly, in June, August, and November 1994 and March 1995, from a representative sample of household residents in all provinces, excluding Indian reserves, Canadian Forces bases and some remote areas in Quebec and Ontario. Respondents were aged 12 and over. One person aged 12 and over was selected randomly in each household for an in-depth interview. The sample count for the Health file is 17,626 people in total (weighted estimate of the population = 23,948,603 people), and 615 people in this sample (weighted estimate = 722,490 people) answered "Yes" to the question: "Do . . . have any of the following long-term conditions that have been diagnosed by a health professional: .. Diabetes ?" Diabetes was the tenth item on the list of chronic conditions read out to respondents.

• Institution File

  Data were collected between January and March 1995 from any long-term residents of selected health care institutions from all provinces, excluding the territories. The sample count for this file was 2,287 people in total (weighted estimate of the institutional population = 227,842 people), and 274 people in this sample (weighted estimate = 27,770) reported that they had been given a diagnosis of diabetes by a health professional.

  National Population Health Survey (NPHS), 1996-1997

  This survey is the continuation of the NPHS 1994-95 and collects cross-sectional as well as longitudinal data. Data were collected in June, August, and November 1996 and March 1997. Selected household respondents from the previous survey were approached once again for an interview; the response rate was 96%. Individuals were contacted in the same quarter for each survey. For cross-sectional purposes, data were also collected from new respondents. The two files used for the analyses in this report are limited to household residents who agreed to share their data with Health Canada and the provinces.

• Health Share File

  Although the core sample consisted of 14,549 respondents, three provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario) bought additional sample size, creating a total sample of 77,403. This weighted up to a population of 28,641,734. There were 2,529 people who answered "Yes" to the diabetes identification question noted in the NPHS 1994-95 description earlier. Of these people, 2,236 (over 88%) lived in the three provinces with additional sample size.

• Longitudinal Share File

  The total sample in this file consisted of 14,860 respondents, 509 of whom identified themselves as having diabetes. The accuracy of longitudinal compared with cross-sectional surveys is unclear at this time. A survey itself is an intervention and may have an effect on both health behaviour and survey responsiveness.

  Aboriginal Peoples Survey (APS), 1991 (Adults)

  The APS 1991 was conducted by Statistics Canada in the fall of 1991. The APS population covered people aged 15 and over who reported at least one Aboriginal origin (i.e., North American Indian, Métis, Inuit or other Aboriginal group) on question 15 of the long census questionnaire, or who reported being registered under the Indian Act on their 1991 Census long questionnaire. It included individuals who had indicated either a single Aboriginal origin; multiple ethnic origins, that is, Aboriginal in combination with at least one other non-Aboriginal origin (e.g., English, Irish, etc.); or multiple Aboriginal origins. The APS was, however, excluded from some reserves with the result that approximately 18% of those listed on the Indian register were not covered by the survey. The final sample of the APS included 36,635 people. The total weighted count was 630,414, of whom 388,610 identified themselves as Aboriginal. In all, 1,608 people (weighted count: 22,897) reported "Yes" to the question "Have you been told by a health professional that you have diabetes?"

  General Social Survey (GSS), 1985, 1991 (Health Cycle)

  The GSS-Health cycle was an interviewer-administered survey conducted by Statistics Canada in 1985 and updated in 1991. Health-related data were collected in September/October 1985 and from January to December 1991 from household residents in all provinces (excluding residents of institutions) aged 15 years and older. Within each household contacted, one person aged 15 or over was randomly selected for the interview. The sample count for the GSS-Health 1985 was 11,200 people in total (weighted estimate of the population = 19,680,000), and 403 people in this sample (weighted estimate = 722,490) answered "Yes" to the question "Do you have diabetes?". The 1991 total sample count was 11,924 (weighted estimate of the population = 20,980,862 people), and the 1991 subsample with self-reported diabetes was 546 persons (weighted estimate = 739,886).

  National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY), 1994-1995

  The NLSCY is an ongoing interviewer-administered survey conducted by Statistics Canada. Data collection was initiated from November 1994 to June 1995 from a representative sample of households with children 0 to 11 years of age, excluding individuals living in Yukon or the Northwest Territories, residents of institutions, and people living on Indian reserves. The intention of the NLSCY is to select a representative sample of children newborn to 11 years of age in Canada and to follow and monitor these children over time every two years into adulthood. Data on the prevalence of gestational diabetes was obtained by asking mothers: "During the pregnancy did you suffer from any of the following: Pregnancy diabetes?" This question covered children 0 to 23 months of age. The total sample count was 22,831 (weighted estimate = 4,673,390), of which there were 270 (weighted estimate = 43,172) positive responses to the question about pregnancy diabetes.

  Statistics Canada Mortality Data

  These data provide a count of all deaths in Canada from the provinces and territories for a given year. The reported cause of death is based on the ICD-9 (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision) code of 250 (diabetes mellitus) for the underlying cause of death as stated on the death certificate.

  Statistics Canada Morbidity Data

  Morbidity data provide a count of cases separated (through discharge or death) from a hospital, by most responsible diagnosis using ICD-9 coding. This event-based information is derived from hospital discharge abstracts (administrative data) and does not include outpatient or day surgery activity. Event-based data do not distinguish between a single person with multiple discharges from hospital and many people with single hospital discharges. Since the Northwest Territories and Yukon have been included only since 1994, information in this report refers to the provinces alone.

  IMS (Intercontinental Medical Statistics) Canada

  This company operates a commercial database with a market survey approach. IMS describes itself as "a leader and an essential partner in the advancement of health, providing critical data, global intelligence and knowledge-based solutions to the health care community". All results are projected or weighted up to represent the total universe, i.e., all physicians and pharmacies in Canada.

• IMS Canadian Disease and Therapeutic Index

  This is a continuing compilation of statistical information about the therapeutic use of prescription and nonprescription medications by office-based physicians, as well as medical visits that do not involve drug therapy, such as routine checkups and consultations. The data are collected from a sample of over 650 physicians stratified by region and representing all major specialties. Each doctor reports each quarter on all patient contact for a period of two consecutive days.

• IMS Canada Compuscript

  This measures the number of new and refill prescriptions dispensed by Canadian retail pharmacies to consumers through formal prescriptions. Data are collected from over 2,500 pharmacies (40% of all pharmacies in Canada) stratified by province, type (chain/independent) and size (large/small). IMS matches approximately 70% of the reported prescription records to the doctors who generated them and therefore can identify their specialty.

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