Chronic Diseases

Breast Cancer Incidence and Death Rate

• In 2014, the age-standardized incidence rate for breast cancer among females in the Health Unit region was statistically higher than the 2013 rate (155.6 versus 97.7 cases per 100,000 females, respectively) and similar to the Ontario rate (146.1 cases per 100,000 females).
• In 2015, the rate of deaths due to female breast cancer was 32 deaths per 100,000 females in the Health Unit region compared to Ontario (24 deaths per 100,000 females). Between 2011 and 2015, the age-standardized mortality rate for breast cancer among females in the Health Unit region has been similar to the rates in Ontario. 

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Cancer Incidence and Cancer Mortality pages for more detail.

Cervical Cancer Incidence and Death Rate

• In 2014, the age-standardized rate for cervical cancer in the Health Unit region was similar to the Ontario rate (8.9 versus 7.3 cases per 100,000 females, respectively).
• In 2015, the age-standardized mortality rate for the Health Unit region was similar to the Ontario rate (5.8 versus 2.2 deaths per 100,000 females, respectively).

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Cancer Incidence and Cancer Mortality pages for more detail.

Colorectal Cancer Incidence and Death Rate

• In 2014, the age-standardized rate for colorectal cancer in the Health Unit region was statistically lower than the rate in 2013 (57.3 versus 87.3 cases per 100,000 population, respectively) and similar to the Ontario rate (60.1 cases per 100,000 population).
• In 2015, the age-standardized mortality rate for colorectal cancer in the Health Unit region was similar to the Ontario rate (23.1 versus 20.8 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively). The age-standardized mortality rate among females within the Health Unit region was almost 1.5 times the Ontario female rate in 2015.

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Cancer Incidence and Cancer Mortality pages for more detail.

Lung Cancer Incidence and Death Rate

• In 2014, the age-standardized rate for lung cancer in the Health Unit region was statistically higher than the Ontario rate (86.1 versus 67.8 cases per 100,000 population, respectively).
• In 2015, the age-standardized mortality rate for lung cancer in the Health Unit region was statistically higher than the Ontario rate (66.5 versus 45.7 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively). The mortality rate among adults aged 50 to 64 years old in the Health Unit region was almost twice the Ontario rate for the same age group (94 versus 49.6 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively).

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Cancer Incidence and Cancer Mortality pages for more detail.

Diabetes Prevalence

• In 2019/20, the percentage of the population in the Health Unit region aged 12 years or older who reported being diagnosed with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes (7.3%) was similar to the Ontario percentage (7.7%). Please interpret the local rate with caution, as it is associated with sampling variability.
• Although separating the types of diabetes was thought to be important in the past, recent evidence regarding the benefits of aggressive management of type 2 diabetes may mean that the distinction is less critical from a planning and policy perspective.

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Self-Reported Chronic Health Problems page for more detail.

Diabetes-Related Hospitalizations and Deaths

• In 2021, the age-standardized rate for diabetes-related hospitalization was 198.9 per 100,000 population in the Health Unit region, almost double the rate in Ontario. Analyses revealed age groups 20 to 44 years old and 45 to 64 years old within the Health Unit region displayed statistically higher rates compared to the Ontario rates for the same age groups (249.6 versus 67.9 hospitalizations per 100,000 population 20 to 44 years, respectively; 222.1 versus 127.6 hospitalizations per 100,000 population 45 to 64 years, respectively).
• In 2015, mortality due to diabetes in the Health Unit region was statistically higher than the Ontario rate (27.7 versus 18.0 deaths per 100,000 population, respectively).
• Although separating the types of diabetes was thought to be important in the past, recent evidence regarding the benefits of aggressive management of type 2 diabetes may mean that the distinction is less critical from a planning and policy perspective.

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Chronic Disease Hospitalization, and Chronic Disease Mortality pages for more detail.

Hypertension Prevalence

In 2019/20, a comparable percentage of the population in the Health Unit region aged 12 years and older reported having hypertension (19.6%) compared to Ontario region (16.7%).

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Self-Reported Chronic Health Problems page for more detail.

Hypertension-Related Hospitalizations

• In 2021, the age-standardized hospitalization rate for hypertension in the Health Unit region was statistically higher than the Ontario rate (43.3 versus 17.5 hospitalizations per 100,000, respectively).
• The age-standardized rate among females in the Health Unit region was nearly 2.75 times the rate of Ontario females in 2021. The rate among adults aged 75 years and older in the Health Unit region was more than triple the Ontario rate among the same age group.

Last updated: July 5, 2023

Visit the PHO Snapshots Chronic Disease Hospitalization page for more detail.