Toronto's low income groups are more likely to suffer from diabetes and cardiovascular disease, while those who earn more are more likely to have unhealthy alcohol use.

The report, titled "The Unequal City 2015: Income and Health Inequities in Toronto," was written by Toronto Public Health officials and released Monday.

The 36-page report (www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2015/hl/bgrd/backgroundfile-79096.pdf) found that those in the city's lowest income groups tended to be the least healthy.

Low-income groups had worse health in 20 of 34 indicators examined.

The report found that health inequalities in Toronto have not improved over time. The report's authors looked at data from the last seven to 12 years, depending on availability.

Though the data found that men's and women's health appeared to have improved in general, the majority of health indicators showed the lowest income groups had the worst health.

"Twenty-one health status indicators showed health inequities in the first years of data analyzed. After approximately ten years, health inequities had persisted for 16 health status indicators, become worst for four indicators and improved for one indicator," the report said.

"These differences are not acceptable - they affect everyone regardless of income," Toronto's Medical Officer of Health David McKeown said in a statement Monday.

"More effort, resources and support is needed across many sectors to address the root causes of these critical health inequities in Toronto."

Here are 10 highlights from the report that may surprise you:
 

  1. The report found that men in the lowest income group were 50 per cent more likely to die before their 75th birthdays.
     
  2. Women in the lowest income group were 85 per cent more likely to have diabetes.
     
  3. Young women (aged 15 to 24) in the lowest income group were twice as likely to contract chlamydia.
     
  4. Babies in that group were 40 per cent more likely to be born with a low birth weight.
     
  5. Low earners were found to have higher rates of cardiovascular disease, premature mortality, diabetes, life expectancy, lung cancer, physical inactivity, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, among other indicators.
     
  6. Higher income groups were more likely to have unhealthy alcohol use.
     
  7. Categories that did not seem to be impacted by income include obesity, childhood injury, falls among older adults and some types of cancer.
     
  8. Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in males and females in Toronto. Over the last 12 years, the differences in colorectal cancer incidence rates between income groups decreased.
     
  9. In Toronto, 23 per cent of all people and 29 per cent of children live with low incomes. Child poverty rates are among the highest in Canada.
     
  10. Approximately 15 per cent of all income in Toronto went to 1 per cent of people in 2012, the most recent year data was collected for the report.