Statistics on Parkinson’s disease

  • More than 25 people are diagnosed with Parkinson’s every day[1]. Between 2011 - 2031, thenumber of Canadians diagnosed with Parkinson’s is expected to double to more than 163,700[2]
  • Parkinson’s has the third highest direct healthcare costs annually at $120,358,000, next toEpilepsy at $208,679,000, andAlzheimer’s & Other Dementias at $527,494,000[3].
  • People living with Parkinson’s disease have the highest rate of prescription drug use compared to other neurological conditionsincluded in the National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions[4].
  • According to Mapping Connections: An Understanding of Neurological Conditions in Canada, people living with Parkinson’s have the second highest annual out-of-pocket expenseat $1,100, next to those with spinal cord injuries[5].
  • The Parkinson’s Community is directly affectedby cognitive impairment and dementia: 40% of peoplewith Parkinson’s disease experience thinking and problem-solving limitations; and 50% experience memory limitations[6].
  • Parkinson’s disease is not a normal part of aging but the incidence does increase with age[7]. 85% of those diagnosed with Parkinson’s are over the age of 65[8].
  • Caregiver stress doubles when caring for individuals living with neurological conditions. This is compounded if the condition is accompanied by cognitive impairment or behavioural issues[9], which affects the majority ofpeople living with Parkinson’s.
  • Time spent in residential care is approximately 200 times higher among those living with a neurological condition than those without one.Residential care days are highest for the following neurological conditions: Parkinson’s disease (50.5 days for men; 76.1 days for women), cerebral palsy (80 days for men; 81.3 for women), Alzheimer’s and other dementia (97.1 days for men’ 134.3 for women), Huntington’s (231.6 days for men; 248.6 days for women)[10].
  • Individuals who develop a neurological condition will experience a substantial number of years living with restricted health (mental or physical), more so than those without one. It is projected that both men and women affected by Parkinson’s will lose a total of 15 years in full health[11].

References

[1]Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC), Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). MAPPING CONNECTIONS: An Understanding of Neurological Conditions in Canada. Sept. 2014. pg.66.

[2]POHEM-Neurological, Statistics Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada. Table 3-5: Projected prevalence, by select neurological condition, Canada, 2011, 2016, 2021, 2026, and 2031, Microsimulation Project. Ibid.,

[3] Ibid.,

[4]Ibid., pg.37.

[5] 2011-2012 SLNCC data (Statistics Canada) provided by POHEM-Neurological (Statistics Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada), Table 2-2: Average annual out-of-pocket costs, by select neurological conditions, Canada, 2011-2012, Microsimulation Project, Ibid., pg.39-40.

[6] Ibid., pg.20,

[7]Parkinson’s: The Facts, Parkinson Society Canada, brochure: 2003.

[8]Parkinson’s Disease: Social and Economic Impact, Health Canada and Parkinson Society Canada, 2003

[9] Neurological Health Charities Canada (NHCC), Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). MAPPING CONNECTIONS: An Understanding of Neurological Conditions in Canada. Sept. 2014. 2011-2012 SLNCC data, Statistics Canada. Figure 1-1: General health among respondents age 15+ years living with a neurological Condition, Canada, 2011-2012, SLNCC 2012-2012 Project pg.17.

[10] Ibid. pg. 29&30

[11]POHEM-Neurological, Statistics Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada. Table 1-1: Average number of years in full health lost*, due to disability and premature death, by select neurological condition and sex, Canada, Microsimulation Project. Ibid.,