Heavy-Drinking - Health Quality Ontario (HQO)

INDICATOR NAME

Name

Percentage of people aged 12 and older who were heavy drinkers

Alternate Name

Percentage of people aged 12 and older who were heavy drinkers

INDICATOR DESCRIPTION

Description

This indicator measures the percentage of people aged 12 and older who were heavy drinkers. A lower percentage is better.

HQO Reporting tool/product

Public reporting

Dimension

Patient-centred

Type

Outcome

DEFINITION AND SOURCE INFORMATION

Unit of Measurement

Percentage

Calculation Methods

Numerator divided by denominator times 100

Numerator (short description i.e. not inclusions/exclusions)

The weighted number of respondents who were heavy drinkers. For males, heavy drinking refers to having consumed five or more drinks, per occasion, at least once a month during the past year. For females, heavy drinking refers to having consumed four or more drinks, per occasion, at least once a month during the past year.

Based on the Canadian Community Heath Survey (CCHS) survey, a 'drink' refers to:

- a bottle or small can of beer, cider or cooler with 5% alcohol content, or a small draft;

- a glass of wine with 12% alcohol content;

- a glass or cocktail containing 1 oz. of a spirit with 40% alcohol content.

Denominator (short description i.e. not inclusions/exclusions)

The weighted number of respondents aged 12 or older that responded to the two survey questions. If respondents answered as not having had an alcoholic drink in the last year, then they were not asked how often in the past 12 months have you had [5/4] or more drinks on one occasion. They were marked as a “valid skip” and the denominator includes the ‘valid skips’.

Adjustment (risk, age/sex standardization)- generalized

Age standardized

Data Source

Canadian Community Heath Survey (CCHS)

Data provided to HQO by

Statistics Canada

Reported Levels of comparability /stratifications (defined)

Age, Education, Immigration, Income, Province, Region, Rurality, Sex, Time

OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

Caveats and Limitations

Because of the significant changes to the survey methodology, Statistics Canada does not recommend making comparisons of the redesigned 2015 cycle of the CCHS with past cycles. As this indicator relies on self-reported data, the true rate might in fact be higher or lower. In addition, the survey coverage excludes: persons living on reserves and other Aboriginal settlements in the provinces; full-time members of the Canadian Forces; the institutionalized population, children aged 12-17 that are living in foster care, and persons living in the Quebec health regions of Région du Nunavik and Région des Terres-Cries-de-la-Baie-James. Altogether, these exclusions represent less than 3% of the Canadian population aged 12 and over.