Statistics Canada reveals chronic disease numbers in Nunavut

In 2011, nearly 2,000 people in Nunavut, that is about six in 100 residents, suffer from arthritis, a painful inflammation of one or more joints.

Nearly as many suffer from high blood pressure, a contributing factor to heart attacks and strokes.

These are among the few numbers Nunavut included in Statistics Canada’s 2011 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada, released Nov. 14.

The objective of the survey, sponsored by the Public Health Agency of Canada, was to assess the impact of diabetes and respiratory conditions, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on quality of life and to provide more information on how Canadians manage their chronic conditions.

Data was collected in the fall of 2010 and the spring of 2011.

Approximately 6,500 people in the 10 provinces and territories — including Nunavut — were interviewed on diseases and health conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, arthritis, high blood pressure, obesity and communicable diseases as well as information on injuries.

The survey reveals that there are about 670 people with diabetes in Nunavut, 540 residents who suffer from asthma, 580 youth who overweight or obese and 1,500 people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

More than 1,000 people in the territory suffer from “mood disorders,” such as depression.

No information on the number of people in Nunavut with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, one of the most common lung diseases, linked to smoking, was included.