Health status, health related behaviours and chronic health indicators in people with Tourette Syndrome: A Canadian population-based study

Abstract

Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a childhood onset neuropsychiatric disorder. The objective of this study was to compare self-perceived health status, health-related behaviours, and chronic health conditions in individuals with and without TS using population-based data. Data were derived from Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2010 and 2011 cycles. The CCHS is a national population-based cross-sectional survey that collects information related to health status for Canadians. We evaluated the association between TS and self-perceived health, health related behaviours and chronic health conditions. 122,884 Canadians participated with 122 participants diagnosed with TS. After controlling for age and sex, the TS population was significantly less likely to have good self-perceived physical health and significantly more likely to need help with instrumental activities of daily living. More individuals with TS were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, a mood disorder, or asthma. We observed no significant differences in health related behaviours between individuals with TS and the general population other than a higher odds of consultation for mental health. Individuals with TS experience a higher frequency of anxiety and mood disorders, and require more assistance with activities of daily living than the general population.