Table 3

Observed prevalence of self-reported negative health indicators*, Canadian Regular Force Veterans (LASS 2016) and Canadian general oopulation (CGP) (CCHS 2015–16)†, by sex‡

MalesFemales
VeteransCGPVeterans vs CGPVeteransCGPVeterans vs CGP
Self-reported health
Fair or poor
22.4%
(20.4 to 24.6)
10.6%
(10.1 to 11.1)
V>C28.4%
(22.4 to 35.3)
10.9%
(10.4 to 11.4)
V>C
Self-reported mental health
Fair or poor
20.1%
(18.8 to 23.3)
5.8%
(10.3 to 11.3)
V>C28.1%
(20.8 to 34.1)
7.5%
(13.8 to 14.8)
V>C
Suicidal ideation in lifetime21.0%
(18.8 to 23.3)
10.8%
(10.3 to 11.3)
V>C26.9%
(20.8 to 34.1)
14.3%
(13.8 to 14.8)
V>C
 Needs help with 1+ADL†18.7%
(16.9 to 20.8)
6.2%
(5.7 to 6.7)
V>C31.2%
(25.2 to 38.0)
9.7%
(9.2 to 10.2)
V>C
Mood disorder19.3%6.4%V>C29.0%11.8%V>C
(17.3 to 21.6)(6.0 to 6.8)(22.8 to 36.1)(11.3 to 12.3)
Anxiety disorder13.4%5.8%V>C22.7%10.7%V>C
(11.7 to 15.3)(5.4 to 6.2)(17.1 to 29.5)(10.2 to 11.2)
PTSD16.6%1.1%V>C14.9%2.8%V>C
(16.3 to 20.5)(0.1 to 2.1)(13.1 to 24.1)(1.8 to 3.8)
Migraine11.2%6.4%V>C28.5%16.9%V>C
(9.6 to 13.1)(6.0 to 6.8)(22.3 to 35.7)(16.3 to 17.5)
Back problems40.9%21.2%V>C39.5%21.3%V>C
(38.4 to 43.6)(20.6 to 21.8)(32.8 to 46.7)(20.7 to 21.9)
Arthritis28.8%17.8%V>C31.5%21.1%V>C
(26.6 to 31.1)(17.2 to 18.4)(25.4 to 38.3)(20.5 to 21.7)
CVD: any type24.6%21.3%V>C12.1%15.5%V=C
(22.5 to 26.7)(20.7 to 21.9)(7.9 to 18.0)(14.9 to 16.1)
CVD: heart disease4.7%4.4%V=CF2.3%F
(3.9 to 5.7) (4.1 to 4.7)(1.9 to 2.6)
CVD: effects of strokeF1.0
(0.8 to 1.2)
FF0.6%
(0.4 to 0.8)
F
CVD: high BP22.3%
(20.3 to 24.4)
18.9%
(18.3 to 19.5)
V>CF13.9%
(13.3 to 14.5)
F
Asthma5.7%6.4%V=C11.3%9.6%V=C
(4.6 to 7.1)(6.0 to 6.8)(7.1 to 17.4)(9.1 to 10.1)
COPD2.5%2.4%V=C2.9%2.8%V=C
(1.9 to 3.5)(2.2 to 2.6)(1.4 to 6.1)(2.5 to 3.1)
Diabetes7.8%8.1%V=C3.2%5.4%V=C
(6.6 to 9.2)(7.7 to 8.5)(1.5 to 6.7)(5.0 to 5.8)
Cancer (lifetime incidence)6.9%3.7%V>C11.0%5.9%V>C
(5.9 to 8.1)(3.4 to 4.0)(7.3 to 16.4)(5.5 to 6.3)
Hearing problem13.0%2.9%V>C4.2%1.7%V>C
(11.5 to 14.8)(2.6 to 3.2)(2.4 to 7.3)(1.4 to 2.0)
Chronic pain39.6%21.2%V>C49.4%25.5%V>C
(37.0 to 42.2)(20.5 to 21.9)(42.2 to 56.6)(24.9 to 26.1)
GI problem8.7%5.6%V>C15.8%9.4%V>C
(7.4 to 10.2)(5.2 to 6.0)(11.4 to 21.4)(9.0 to 9.8)
  • *PTSD = Post traumatic stress disorder; CVD = cardiovascular disease (heart disease,effects of stroke or currently has high blood pressure); COPD = chronicbronchitis, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; GI =gastrointestinal (bowel disorders or ulcers); ADL = instrumentalactivity of daily living (iADL) or basic activity of daily living (bADL); F =Too few to calculate a reliable estimate

  • †PTSD obtained from the CCHS 2012 Mental Health Supplement47; COPD, hearing problem and GI problems obtained from CCHS 2013–1417; chronic pain obtained from CCHS 2011–12.17

  • ‡CCHS data are age-adjusted to LASS distributions; all estimates incorporate survey sampling weights to account for both non-response and the complex stratified sampling designs of the LASS and the CCHS.

  • bADL, basic activity of daily living; CCHS, Canadian Community Health Survey; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; F, too few to calculate a reliable estimate; GI, gastrointestinal; iADL, instrumental activity of daily living; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder.