Health indicators are summary measures designed to provide comparable and actionable information about priority topics related to population health or health system performance.
What’s the difference between metrics, indicators and performance indicator?
Health system performance indicators are a type of health indicator, and health indicators are a type of metric. The table below describes these health measures and provides examples for each to help illustrate the difference.
| Measure type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Metric |
Information that is quantifiable and reported as a number Has value and many uses but cannot be compared |
|
| Health indicator |
Gives context to metrics, usually using a ratio (e.g., per X) Designed to ensure comparability (e.g., by being risk-adjusted or standardized) Directionality may or may not exist |
|
| Health system performance indicator | A health indicator that has a desired direction (e.g., lower rates are desirable) |
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Learn more about health indicators
Getting to Know Health Indicators
An overview of health indicators and how stakeholders use these valuable tools to get high-level, comparative information on key issues.
CIHI’s Indicator library
For definitions, methodologies and the latest indicator results.
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