Morbidity Experiences and Disability Among Canadian Women.

Marie Desmeules,Robert Cho,Linda Turner

doi:10.1186/1472-6874-4-s1-s10

Abstract

Health IssueWomen are more frequently affected by chronic conditions and disability than men. Although some of these sex differences have been in part attributed to biological susceptibility, social determinants of health and other factors, these gaps have not been fully explained in the current literature. This chapter presents comparisons of hospitalization rates, and the prevalence of chronic conditions and physical disability between Canadian women and men and between various subgroups of women, adjusting for selected risk factors. The Canadian Hospital Morbidity Database (2000–2001) and Canadian Community Health Survey (2000–2001) were used to examine inpatient hospital morbidity, prevalence of chronic conditions and disability.Key FindingsHospitalization rates were 20% higher among women than men. This was due to the large number of hospitalizations for pregnancies and childbirth. When "normal" deliveries were excluded, hospitalization rates remained higher among women. Women had slightly lower rates of hospitalizations for ambulatory-care sensitive conditions than men. Prevalence of activity limitation (mild and severe) was higher among women than men, and differences remained after adjusting for age, chronic conditions, socio-economic status, and smoking. Women who reported a disability were less likely than men to be in a partnered relationship, have less tangible social support, and have lower income and employment rates.Data Gaps and RecommendationsThe impact of morbidity and disability on Canadian women is substantial. These results identify areas for interventions among more vulnerable subgroups, and point to the need for further research in the area of risk factors for the prevention of morbidity and disability in the population.

Highlights

Overall morbidity is commonly defined as "departure from an overall state of health," but often refers to the effect of illness, disease or injury in a population
Data Gaps and Recommendations: The impact of morbidity and disability on Canadian women is substantial. These results identify areas for interventions among more vulnerable subgroups, and point to the need for further research in the area of risk factors for the prevention of morbidity and disability in the population
Data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) (2000–2001) and only the inpatient data from acute care hospitals contained in the Hospital Morbidity Database were used for the analysis in this chapter

Summary

Introduction

Overall morbidity is commonly defined as "departure from an overall state of health," but often refers to the effect of illness, disease or injury in a population. Previous findings in Canada have shown that, there has been a steady decline in hospitalization rates over the last several decades among women and men for most causes (though less pronounced when same-day procedures are included), women are hospitalized more frequently (especially in the younger adult years), the sex ratios being approximately 1:4 over all age groups. These findings can be explained, at least in part, by pregnancyrelated hospitalizations. Data on visits to emergency departments show similar patterns by sex. [11,12]

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