Annual Change in Surgical Volumes Since Start of COVID-19 Pandemic
A higher percentage is desirable. This indicates an increase in surgical volumes.
Change in annual surgical volumes since the start of COVID-19 = ((Total number of surgeries performed in the reporting year – Total number of surgeries performed in the baseline year) ÷ (Total number of surgeries performed in the baseline year)) × 100
Unit of analysis: Discharge
A “surgery” in this calculation is 1 visit to the operating room (and therefore 1 discharge). This 1 visit may include multiple procedures.
The official declaration of a pandemic was made in March 2020, so the baseline year includes 12 months between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020 (modified fiscal year 2019–2020).
Reporting year and baseline year are based on the date of discharge in the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) and the date of registration in the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS).
Total number of surgeries performed in the baseline year.
Baseline year includes 12 months between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020 (modified fiscal year 2019–2020).
Baseline year is based on the date of discharge in the DAD and date of registration in NACRS.
Difference in surgical volumes between the reporting year and the baseline year.
Reporting year is based on the date of discharge in the DAD and the date of registration in NACRS.
Methodology
Name
Annual Change in Surgical Volumes Since Start of COVID-19 Pandemic
Description
Change in surgeries completed in Canada during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, tracked by volume and percentage change
Rationale
This indicator measures the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical activity in Canada.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many scheduled and non-emergency surgeries were cancelled or delayed to prioritize COVID-19 patients, conduct urgent procedures or accommodate public health guidelines.
Health care worker supply and health resource availability also affected which surgeries could be performed during that period.
Ongoing monitoring of surgical volumes helps to inform recovery and planning efforts by health systems. This monitoring also, in turn, supports delivery of timely care to Canadians.
Interpretation
A higher percentage is desirable. This indicates an increase in surgical volumes.
HSP Framework Dimension
Health system outputs: Access to comprehensive, high-quality health services
Areas of Need
Getting Better
Available Data Years
to (fiscal years)
Reporting Level/Disaggregation
- National
- Province/Territory
- Neighbourhood Income Quintile
- Age group
- Recorded sex or gender
- Urban or rural/remote
Indicator Results
Update Frequency
Every year
Latest Results Update Date
Description
Change in annual surgical volumes since the start of COVID-19 = ((Total number of surgeries performed in the reporting year – Total number of surgeries performed in the baseline year) ÷ (Total number of surgeries performed in the baseline year)) × 100
Unit of analysis: Discharge
A “surgery” in this calculation is 1 visit to the operating room (and therefore 1 discharge). This 1 visit may include multiple procedures.
The official declaration of a pandemic was made in March 2020, so the baseline year includes 12 months between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020 (modified fiscal year 2019–2020).
Reporting year and baseline year are based on the date of discharge in the Discharge Abstract Database (DAD) and the date of registration in the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System (NACRS).
Type of Measurement
Percentage or proportion
Denominator
Description:
Total number of surgeries performed in the baseline year.
Baseline year includes 12 months between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020 (modified fiscal year 2019–2020).
Baseline year is based on the date of discharge in the DAD and date of registration in NACRS.
Inclusions:
- Urgent and elective surgeries performed in either inpatient or day surgery settings
- Surgeries categorized in the National Grouping System (NGS) as major surgery
- All age groups
Exclusions:
- Procedures abandoned after onset or coded as out of hospital
Numerator
Description:
Difference in surgical volumes between the reporting year and the baseline year.
Reporting year is based on the date of discharge in the DAD and the date of registration in NACRS.
Inclusions:
- Urgent and elective surgeries performed in either inpatient or day surgery settings
- Surgeries categorized in the National Grouping System (NGS) as major surgery
- All age groups
Exclusions:
- Procedures abandoned after onset or coded as out of hospital
Geographic Assignment
Place of residence or service
Data Sources
- DAD
- NACRS
Caveats and Limitations
- Jurisdictions are implementing various strategies to increase surgical volumes and reduce wait times. One strategy involves the delivery of surgeries funded through jurisdictional health plans, particularly cataract surgeries and, more recently, joint replacements, at private facilities (also referred to as chartered facilities, non-hospital surgical facilities, alternate health facilities or integrated community health services centres). Due to inconsistencies in data capture on privately delivered surgeries, these procedures may not be fully reflected in this measure.
- This measure is not adjusted for changes in population growth or for other factors (e.g., age).
- Indicator results may not align with provincial and territorial reporting given differences in methodologies and data sets being used.
- To ensure comparability of indicator results over time, methodology modifications were applied for Alberta (all data years, to account for changes in regular data flows for day surgery and other ambulatory care) and New Brunswick (2023, to ensure appropriate capture of ophthalmology procedures).
References
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Taking the pulse: A snapshot of Canadian health care, 2023. Accessed May 27, 2024.
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Wait times for priority procedures in Canada, 2024. Accessed May 27, 2024.
How to cite:
Canadian Institute for Health Information. Annual Change in Surgical Volumes Since Start of COVID-19 Pandemic. Accessed April 25, 2025.
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Comments
This indicator is part of a set of common indicators to measure progress on the priority areas to improve health care announced by federal, provincial and territorial governments in 2023. Additional information is available on the Shared Health Priorities web page.