Impact study on Neurological disease, disorders and injuries in Canada

The Impact Study was produced by the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation (CNSF) and the Canadian Brain and Nerve Health Coalition (CBANHC) – of which NeuroScience Canada is a member – in collaboration with the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). The report measures the incidence, prevalence, economic and social impact of neurological diseases, disorders and injuries in Canada.

The report highlights 11 neurological conditions for which sufficient data was available, including: Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brain tumours, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, head injury, headaches, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, spinal injuries, stroke. The report also provides a short summary of the current literature on an additional 20 neurological conditions for which there is little or no data: anoxic encephalopathy, autism, attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), benign intracranial hypertension, Bell’s Palsy, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Congenital Abnormalities of the Central Nervous System and Spine, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, Degenerative Disorders of the Spine, Disorders of the Peripheral Nervous System Global Developmental Delay, Huntington’s Disease, Hydrocephalus, Muscular Dystrophy Myasthenia Gravis, Sleep Disorders, Syringomyelia, Spinocerebellar Ataxias, Tourette Syndrome and Trimeminal Neuralgia.

CBANHC and NeuroScience Canada chose to embark in the study because neurological diseases, disorders and injuries suffer from a low profile in Canada and from a lack of cohesion among representative groups. Currently, there are no comprehensive statistics that accurately measure how many Canadians are affected by neurological disorders and what the costs of individual disorders are to the health care system.

The purpose of the report is to improve understanding of the epidemiology and the impact of selected neurological conditions on the Canadian health care system and society. The report provides an estimate of the direct and indirect costs, disability-adjusted life years and hospital utilization associated with these conditions, using available data sources. This work is intended to serve as a baseline for information about the burden of neurological conditions across the country and to provide a foundation for future research in this area. The report also provides important information to key stakeholders and decision-makers in Canada who are responsible for building a long-term national strategy for neurological sciences in the areas of clinical care and research.

Click here to read the full report