The third major quinquennial survey Quebec Health seems to show, on the whole, a deterioration in the state of health of the Quebec population.
This survey has been carried out every five years since 1987 and aims to provide information on physical and mental health problems, lifestyle habits, use of health services, and to help better understand the role of certain social determinants of the state. health (education, wealth, work environment, etc.). The 1998 survey was carried out among 12,000 households which provided information on nearly 30,000 Quebecers.
Results from 1998 indicate that 64% of people report having at least one health problem compared to 55% in 1987. Analysis of health problems indicates that their prevalence is increasing in all age groups and for almost all major ones. problems with the exception of gastric disorders and ulcers, fatigue and ear disease.
The table below shows which problems experienced the highest percentage increases in the total population between 1987 and 1998.
|
Problem |
1987 |
1998 |
|
Headache |
8.4% |
11.8% |
|
Arthritis or rheumatism |
10.0% |
11.8% |
|
Other allergies |
6.5% |
10.3% |
|
Back or spine pain |
7.7% |
10.2% |
|
Allergic rhinitis |
6.0% |
9.4% |
|
Arterial hypertension |
6.3% |
8.5% |
|
Asthma |
2.3% |
5.0% |
|
Mental disorders |
3.0% |
4.3% |
|
Thyroid Disorders |
1.3% |
3.7% |
|
Diabetes |
1.6% |
2.8% |
The survey, which is based solely on the problems and situations as described by those polled, explains some increases by the aging of the population (chronic diseases like arthritis and hypertension), by better diagnostic tools or the lowering of thresholds for defining the disease (diabetes and thyroid problems) but recognizes that certain problems “seem to be on the rise, regardless of the aging of the population or technological progress (eg: back pain, asthma and allergic rhinitis in 0-44 years) ”.
The survey also reveals that the proportion of smokers has remained at 34% of the population since 1992, that the habit of consuming alcohol has increased slightly (from 79.9 to 81.3% of the population) , that 28.8% of people never exercise (24.6% in 1992) and that excess weight problems affect 28.1% compared to 24.7% in 1992.
HealthPassport.net
Social and health survey 1998, Institut de la statistique du Québec, 2000. http://www.stat.gouv.qc.ca
