Abstract

       This is Canada's first detailed study of the quality of life and the health of the body, mind and spirit of adult Canadians with any one of four diseases, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure.

      Of Canada's 24.7 million adults aged 15 and over in 2002, 3.6 million (14.8%) report high blood pressure, 1.3 million (5.4%) heart disease, 1.2 million (4.8%) diabetes, and 480 thousand (1.8%) cancer - Table A, below.

      A higher percentage of women than men have high blood pressure and cancer, while a higher percentage of men have diabetes and heart disease.

      Relatively high percentages with high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer are found in Prince Edward Island; high percentages with heart disease are also found in Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, while relatively high percentages with diabetes are found in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

      In the metro areas the percentage of the population with heart disease is relatively low in Toronto and Vancouver, which also has a relatively low percentage with cancer. The percentage with heart disease is relatively high in all non-metro areas of Canada.

      Characteristics reflective of a lower quality of life include the following: "poor/fair" ability to handle day-to-day problem - all four diseases; rarely felt loved and appreciated - heart disease; rarely felt at peace with myself - diabetes, cancer; rarely felt emotionally balanced - diabetes, cancer; rarely felt useful - all diseases; has attempted suicide - diabetes; and mental health is "fair" or "poor" - all diseases.

      Characteristics reflective of a higher quality of life include the following: spiritual values help understand life's difficulties (also, help with everyday difficulties, and help to find meaning in life) a lot - all diseases; very strong belonging to locality - all diseases; most days not stressful at all past month - all diseases; and often copes with stress by praying/spiritual help - all diseases.

      Almost without exception those in income groups below $50,000 have higher percentages with each of the four diseases than in the general population, while the reverse is the case in households in income groups above $50,000.

      The regression analyses reveal that education is negatively associated in almost all of the 26 subgroups examined, with the presence of any of the four diseases except cancer, which is perhaps less preventable by education.

      As expected, age is the dominant variable in the associations, while gender, worship frequency, lifetime consumption of marijuana, and hours of sleep are relatively unimportant in most subgroups.