The North East Local Health Integration Network (NE LHIN) has released a health profile of the region using Statistics Canada data (Statistics Canada – 2006 Community Profiles and Statistics Canada – Health Profile, June 2012). The profile highlights the area’s changing demographics; details high rates of chronic disease and lower life expectancy; and describes unique population characteristics. For example, the NE LHIN has the largest proportion of Francophone population compared to all other LHINs, at 23 per cent.
Furthermore, the NE LHIN population has higher rates of chronic disease conditions when compared to the provincial average including arthritis, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, mood disorders and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As an example, rates for mood disorder are 7.9 per cent in the NE LHIN compared to 6.8 per cent in Ontario as a whole.
The North East LHIN is currently developing priorities for its 2013 – 2016 strategic plan and the population profile information will be used to inform the process.
To read the Profile, go to www.nelhin.on.ca.