According to figures released in December 2020 by Statistics Canada, 73 per cent of Canadians 65 or older have at least one of 10 identified chronic diseases, with high blood pressure (65.7%), periodontal disease (52%), and osteoarthritis (38%) topping the list.
By Wendy Haaf
The other seven conditions noted are coronary heart disease (27%), diabetes (26.8%), osteoporosis (25.1%), cancer (21.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, at 20.2%), asthma (10.7%), and mood and anxiety disorders (10.5%).
Two less-than-ideal lifestyle habits were also common in this age group: 77.3 per cent of these older Canadians reported consuming fewer than five daily servings of fruit and vegetables, and 60.6 per cent fell short of meeting physical activity guidelines.
Source: Statistics Canada
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