Abstract

        This study of the presents basic data on the quality of life and the health of the body, mind and spirit of adult Canadians with any one of 14 chronic conditions, noted in the subtitle. Four of the diseases, diabetes, cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure are the subject of Monograph 22.

        Some 17 million or 69% of Canadians report at least one chronic condition: 51% are women and 49% men. Of the 14 conditions studied the most common is diagnosed non-food allergies, 29%, and the least common is cancer, 1.9%.

        Women comprise 81% of those reporting a thyroid condition, the highest concentration for women, followed by diagnosed migraines, 72%. Men comprise 52% of those with heart disease, and diabetes - their highest concentrations.

        Multiple chronic conditions are measured. For example, of those suffering from back problems, (21% of Canadians), 52% are women, and 37% of the total also have non-food allergies, 35% arthritis, 20% high blood pressure, and 19% migraines, and smaller percentages have other conditions, including 3.1% with cancer.

        One basic assumption of this study is that membership and participation in a faith community is helpful to those with chronic conditions. A health problem may discourage weekly worship and any form of participation in the community, as well as increase the interest in weekly participation.

        Within faith communities, the widest difference in the weekly worship rate is for French Catholics with cancer, 48%, compared with 17% for all French Catholics. Another wide difference is between the rate for Baptists with bowel disorders, 66%, compared with 46% for all Baptists.

        We expected to find that those with chronic health problems would rely more on spiritual values in their life, though perceive the quality of their physical and mental health to be lower. And this appears to be the case for most chronic conditions.

        For example, 29% of Canadians report that spiritual values help them a lot to understand life's difficulties, while over 38% of those with diabetes, heart disease, cancer (a high of 44%), a thyroid condition, and arthritis say spiritual values help a lot.

        Only 13% of Canadians rate their physical health as being fair or poor (15% of women, 12% of men), though over 20% do so if they have asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, heart disease (a high of 45%), high blood pressure, migraines, cancer, ulcers, bowel disorders, a thyroid condition, arthritis or a back problem.

        Only 7% of Canadians rate their mental health as fair or poor (8% of women and 6% of men), though over 12% of those with heart disease, migraines, ulcers, or bowel disorders. Only 8% often cope with stress by smoking more, but this percentages increases to 22% for those with bronchitis, 16% for those with ulcers, 14% for migraine sufferers, 12% for those with back problems, and 11% for those with asthma.

        Some 14% of Canadians often choose jogging or exercise to reduce stress, from 8% of those with bronchitis to a high of 17% of those with food allergies. Praying or seeking spiritual help is the most common way of dealing with stress as a minority, 39% never use this strategy, especially women, 29%, compared with 50% of men.

        Among both women and men, and those with each chronic condition, the weekly worshippers are more likely to feel loved and appreciated, at peace, emotionally balanced, and useful than the non-worshippers.