Seniors’ Health In VCHA:
Current data sources & thoughts for
the future
Emily Laflamme, MPH
Regional Epidemiologist, Public Health Surveillance Unit
Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
[email protected]
1
2
(Y)our goals for seniors’ health
• Understand an aging demographic
• Focus on underlying causes
• Engaging in community based planning
solutions
• Strengthening community capacity to help
those who are vulnerable
3
Data sources we use regularly
•
•
•
•
•
•
Canadian Community Health Survey
Vital Statistics, BC
CIHI Health Indicators
Canadian Census/Nat’l Household Survey
CTUMS/CADUMS
VCH Surveillance Data (ERs, CDs, facility
outbreaks)
• Acute care utilization data
4
What are the biggest issues with
currently available data?
Geography/age group breakdowns
Utilization vs. true need
Timeliness
Lack of longitudinal data
Inability to include local issues/questions
5
6
Healthy Richmond Survey - by the numbers
• 35 survey questions
• 10 days of surveying (field + web)
• 25 field locations + 18 field surveyors
– Real-time data collection allowed for strategic placement
of surveyors
– Surveys were offered in English, Cantonese, Mandarin
• 3641 survey responses (624 seniors: 102 on the web)
– Weighted by age, sex, neighbourhood: post-collection
7
1. What are the health issues that
seniors are facing?
100
Current Smoker
Does not meet vigorous physical activity guideline
90
Does not meet fruits & vegetable consumption guideline
80
70
Percent (%)
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
18 to 29
30 to 54
55 to 64
65+
Age category (years)
Results from Healthy Richmond Survey, 2012
8
Digging deeper: physical activity
Seniors not getting enough physical activity:
68%
– Of these:
54% have high blood pressure
37% have arthritis
19% have other chronic pain
10% have a chronic lung condition
– That said:
30% are walking more than 30mins
per day
Results from Healthy Richmond Survey, 2012
9
2. How can these issues be addressed?
Adjusted odds ratios of specific health-behaviour changes associated with community
belonging: Hystad et al. 2012
10
Results from Healthy Richmond Survey, 2012 11
What’s still missing?
• Bi-directionality – empowering the
participant to make health changes based on
their own data
12
Vision for the future:
My Health, My Community
• Building on lessons learned from Healthy
Richmond
• Online, interactive platform (+ field
component)
• Two-way exchange of information
• Connects the participant with local, relevant
resources
• Longitudinal local-level data collection
• Platform built with community input
13
Public Health Surveillance Unit
Supporting regional public health practice:
–
–
–
–
Health Assessment
Disease Surveillance
Epidemiological Investigations
Knowledge Transfer
Public Health Surveillance Unit
8th Floor - 601 West Broadway
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada V5Z 4C2
[email protected]
14