Asthma is a
relatively common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs,
which results in symptoms such as episodes of wheezing, coughing, chest
tightness and shortness of breath. The
NWHU monitors trends of mortality and hospitalization from asthma in the
catchment area.
Hospitalization
From 2010 to
2014, hospitalization rates from asthma in the NWHU were not statistically different
than in Ontario as a whole. Ontario had an average of 41.8 cases per 100,000 per
year while the NWHU had 44.2 cases per 100,000 per year.
Females had
slightly higher rates of hospitalization for asthma in comparison to males, an
average of 49.9 cases per 100,000 per year vs 38.3 cases per 100,000 per year
respectively (difference was not statistically significant). As well,
hospitalization rates for asthma generally decreased with age where those between
the ages of 0-19 had the highest rates, at 64.8 cases per 100,000 per year,
while those ages 75 and older had the lowest rates at 15.7 cases per 100,000 per
year.
Source: Public Health Ontario. Snapshots:
Hospitalization for asthma 2010-2014. Toronto, ON: Ontario Agency for Health
Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 May 26]. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Chronic-Disease-Hospitalization.aspx
Hospitalization from ischaemic heart disease in the NWHU by age group, rates per 100,000, 2010-2014
| Age |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|---|
| 0-19 |
84.4 |
71.2 |
58.5 |
32.0 |
78.1 |
64.8 |
|---|
| 20-44 |
32.4 |
45.0 |
41.1 |
53.8 |
37.1 |
41.9 |
|---|
| 45-64 |
34.4 |
25.7 |
21.5 |
30.2 |
30.3 |
28.4 |
|---|
| 65-74 |
0.0 |
32.7 |
15.6 |
14.8 |
28.8 |
18.4 |
|---|
| 75+ |
20.1 |
19.7 |
19.4 |
19.3 |
0.0 |
15.7 |
|---|
Source: Public
Health Ontario. Snapshots: Hospitalization for asthma 2010-2014. Toronto, ON:
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 May
26]. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Chronic-Disease-Hospitalization.aspxMortality
On average,
mortality rates for asthma were relatively low and similar within the NWHU and
the province during 2007-2011 (0.6 cases per 100,000 people vs 0.5,
respectively). While Ontario experienced a gradual downward trend, the NWHU
experienced greater fluctuation with sharp increases in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Males were
slightly more likely to experience death from asthma in comparison to females
(1.6 cases per 100,000 people vs 1.2 respectively). As well, those ages 75
years and older were significantly more likely to experience death from asthma
in comparison to any other age group (20.1 cases per 100,000 people).
Source: Public
Health Ontario. Snapshots: Mortality from asthma 2007-2011. Toronto, ON:
Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion; 2016 Feb 1 [cited 2016 June
24]. Available from: http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/DataAndAnalytics/Snapshots/Pages/Chronic-Disease-Mortality.aspx