Poverty accounts for 24% of person years of life lost in Canada, second only to 30% for cancers. The evidence shows poverty to be a risk to health equivalent to hypertension, high cholesterol, and smoking. We devote significant energy and resources to treating these health issues. Should we treat poverty like any equivalent health condition? . In Ontario 20% of families live in poverty. Growing up in poverty has been associated with increased adult morbidity and mortality resulting from: stomach, liver, and lung cancer; diabetes; cardiovascular disease; stroke; respiratory diseases; nervous system conditions; diseases of the digestive system; alcoholic cirrhosis; unintentional injuries; and homicide.
Cardiovascular disease:
• Prevalence: 17% higher rate of circulatory conditions among lowest income quintile than Canadian average.
• Mortality: If everyone had the premature mortality rates of the highest income quintile there would be 21% fewer premature deaths per year due to CVD.
Diabetes:
• Prevalence: Lowest income quintile more than double highest income (10% vs. 5% in men, 8% vs. 3% in women).
• Mortality: Women 70% higher(17 vs. 10/105); men 58% higher(27 vs. 17/105).
Mental Illness
• Prevalence: Consistent relationship between low SES and mental illness, e.g. depression 58% higher below the poverty line than the Canadian average.
• Suicide: Attempt rate of people on social assistance is 18 times higher than higher income individuals.
Cancer:
• Prevalence: Higher for lung, oral (OR 2.41), cervical (RR 2.08).
• Mortality: Lower 5-year survival rates for most cancers.
• Screening: Low income women are less likely to access mammograms or Paps.
Other chronic conditions:
• Prevalence: Higher for hypertension, arthritis, COPD, asthma. higher risk of having multiple chronic conditions.
• Mortality: Increased for COPD.
Infants:
• Infant mortality: 60% higher in lowest income quintile neighbourhoods
• Low birth weight: If all babies in Toronto were born with the low birth weight rate of the highest income quintile there would be 1,300 or 20% fewer singleton LBW babies born per year.
Taken from here
Cardiovascular disease:
• Prevalence: 17% higher rate of circulatory conditions among lowest income quintile than Canadian average.
• Mortality: If everyone had the premature mortality rates of the highest income quintile there would be 21% fewer premature deaths per year due to CVD.
Diabetes:
• Prevalence: Lowest income quintile more than double highest income (10% vs. 5% in men, 8% vs. 3% in women).
• Mortality: Women 70% higher(17 vs. 10/105); men 58% higher(27 vs. 17/105).
Mental Illness
• Prevalence: Consistent relationship between low SES and mental illness, e.g. depression 58% higher below the poverty line than the Canadian average.
• Suicide: Attempt rate of people on social assistance is 18 times higher than higher income individuals.
Cancer:
• Prevalence: Higher for lung, oral (OR 2.41), cervical (RR 2.08).
• Mortality: Lower 5-year survival rates for most cancers.
• Screening: Low income women are less likely to access mammograms or Paps.
Other chronic conditions:
• Prevalence: Higher for hypertension, arthritis, COPD, asthma. higher risk of having multiple chronic conditions.
• Mortality: Increased for COPD.
Infants:
• Infant mortality: 60% higher in lowest income quintile neighbourhoods
• Low birth weight: If all babies in Toronto were born with the low birth weight rate of the highest income quintile there would be 1,300 or 20% fewer singleton LBW babies born per year.
Taken from here
1 comment:
Socialism has never existed anywhere. It is a post-capitalist society so can not be a reason for any of those things of whch capitalism is undoubtably the culprit.Do some reading.
http://www.worldsocialism.org/english/introductory-articles
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