Overview

Abstract (English)

Highlights * This study is the first to investigate the national prevalence of physical and mental comorbidity in Canada. * The impact of chronic diseases on HRQoL, suicidal ideation, and healthcare utilization can be greatly exacerbated by the combination of physical and mental disorders. * To date, the intervention strategies adopted in Canada appear to be insufficient or inappropriate as more unmet health care needs was reported by those with physical and mental comorbidity. Abstract Background The substantial burden of physical and mental comorbidity is increasingly gaining attention, but a comprehensive evaluation of this is limited in Canada. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of physical and mental comorbidity and its implications in Canada. Methods We used nationally representative data from Canadian Community Health Survey, 2014. We included individuals who were aged -18 years and excluded those who had missing information on physical or mental disorders. Chronic diseases referred to both physical and mental disorders. Results Respondents included in our analysis represented 27,221,856 Canadians aged =>18 years. Of these, 53.9% (95% CI 53.1–54.6) had one or more chronic diseases, 11.5% (95% CI 11.0–12.0) had mental disorder, and 8.4% (95% CI 8.0–8.8) had physical and mental comorbidity. Compared with those without chronic diseases, people with one or more chronic diseases had higher sex- and age-adjusted prevalence of severe impairment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), suicidal ideation, and healthcare utilization; and the risks increased consistently with the number of chronic diseases. However, among those with the same number of chronic diseases, people with mental disorder or physical and mental comorbidity were more likely to have these adverse consequences than people with only physical disorders. Limitations Our study was based on self-reported data, and included only major chronic diseases rather than all probable chronic diseases. Conclusions Physical and mental comorbidity is prevalent in Canada and should be addressed with appropriate interventions considering its excessive adverse impact on HRQoL, suicidal ideation and healthcare utilization.

Abstract (French)

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