Health trends in Canada 1990-2019: An analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study

Authors

Jacek A. Kopec, University of British Columbia, Canada
Farshad Pourmalek, University of British Columbia, Canada
Daniel A. Adeyinka, University of Saskatchewan, Canada
Amin Adibi, University of British Columbia, Canada
Gina Agarwal, McMaster University, Canada
Samiah Alam, Dalhousie University, Canada
Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Aga Khan UniversityFollow
Zahid A. Butt, University of Waterloo, Canada
Vijay K. Chattu, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, India
Oghenowede Eyawo, York University, Canada

Document Type

Article

Department

Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health; Paediatrics and Child Health

Abstract

Objective: Monitoring trends in key population health indicators is important for informing health policies. The aim of this study was to examine population health trends in Canada over the past 30 years in relation to other countries.
Methods: We used data on disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLL), years lived with disability, life expectancy (LE), and child mortality for Canada and other countries between 1990 and 2019 provided by the Global Burden of Disease Study.
Results: Life expectancy, age-standardized YLL, and age-standardized DALYs all improved in Canada between 1990 and 2019, although the rate of improvement has leveled off since 2011. The top five causes of all-age DALYs in Canada in 2019 were neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders, and mental disorders. The greatest increases in all-age DALYs since 1990 were observed for substance use, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and sense organ disorders. Age-standardized DALYs declined for most conditions, except for substance use, diabetes and chronic kidney disease, and musculoskeletal disorders, which increased by 94.6%, 14.6%, and 7.3% respectively since 1990. Canada's world ranking for age-standardized DALYs declined from 9th place in 1990 to 24th in 2019.
Conclusion: Canadians are healthier today than in 1990, but progress has slowed in Canada in recent years in comparison with other high-income countries. The growing burden of substance abuse, diabetes/chronic kidney disease, and musculoskeletal diseases will require continued action to improve population health.

Comments

Volume, issue and pagination are not provided by the author/publisher.

Publication (Name of Journal)

Canadian Journal of Public Health

DOI

10.17269/s41997-024-00851-3

Recommended Citation

Kopec, J. A., Pourmalek, F., Adeyinka, D. A., Adibi, A., Agarwal, G., Alam, S., Bhutta, Z. A., Butt, Z. A., Chattu, V. K., Eyawo, O. (2024). Health trends in Canada 1990-2019: An analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Canadian Journal of Public Health.
Available at: https://ecommons.aku.edu/coe-wch/87