ADULTS
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (Volume 1: Chapter 1)
Just under 15% of men and women aged 16+ had any cardiovascular disorder, this increased markedly with age. The largest difference between men and women was seen in the prevalence of heart attack (reported by 4.2% of men and 2.4% of women). Overall the prevalence of ischaemic heart disease ( IHD) or stroke was 9.6% for men and 8.0% for women, this increased with age to 37.3% of men and 28.9% of women aged 75+.
Proportion with any CVD condition by age and sex
Volume 1: Chapter 1, Figure 1A
Both cardiovascular disease and IHD or stroke were more common in households where the household reference person was employed in semi-routine and routine occupations than in managerial and professional occupations. The chart shows how prevalence of any CVD disorder, and IHD or stroke, increased as deprivation increased.
Prevalence of any CVD, IHD or stroke, by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation quintile and sex (age-standardised)
Volume 1: Chapter 1, Figure 1B
Use of health services
A quarter of those with CVD had consulted a GP in the past two weeks. Just over half of those with CVD had attended hospital (not necessarily in connection with their CVD) as outpatients, day patients or at casualty, and a quarter had been inpatients in the 12 months before the interview. One in four men and one in eight women reported ever having a surgical procedure because of their CVD condition.
Risk factors for cardiovascular disease
The mean level of total cholesterol was 5.4 mmol/l in men and 5.6 mmol/l in women; 63% of men and 67% of women had a cholesterol level above 5.0 mmol/l. Almost four times as many men as women had an HDL-cholesterol level below 1 mmol/l (higher levels of HDL-cholesterol protect against heart disease). The mean level of fibrinogen was 2.8 g/l for men and 3.1 g/l for women aged 16 and over, and increased with age in both groups. C-reactive protein levels also increased with age. Other risk factors are reported on later in this summary.
ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION (Volume 2: Chapter 1)
27% of men reported usual alcohol consumption in excess of the recommended limit of 21 units per week. (A unit is, for example, half a pint of normal strength beer, a small glass of wine, or a single measure of spirits.) This was less common in men over 65. The proportion of women who reported usual alcohol consumption in excess of the recommended limit of 14 units per week was half that of men. The proportion of women exceeding 14 units per week decreased with age.
On average, men drank 17.2 units of alcohol and women 6.5 units per week. Weekly levels of consumption were highest among women in managerial and professional households and in the highest income households; consumption decreased along with household income, and was lowest for women in semi-routine and routine occupations.
Among men who reported drinking alcohol in the past week, two-thirds drank more than the recommended level of 4 units of alcohol and one-third more than 8 units (the level used to define 'binge' drinking) on the heaviest drinking day. Among women, more than half reported drinking more than the recommended 3 units on their heaviest drinking day in the past week; one-quarter drank more than 6 units (binge drinking). This decreased with age in men and women.
Reported binge drinking in the past week was more common in men from households with lower income or living in the most deprived areas of Scotland and was lowest for men in managerial and professional occupations.
Proportion of men who had drunk in the past week who exceeded government guidelines on daily alcohol consumption (4 units), and binge drinking (8 units), by age
Volume 2, Chapter 1, Figure 1C Volume 2, Chapter 1, Figure 1C
Proportion of women who had drunk in the past week who exceeded government guidelines on daily alcohol consumption (3 units), and binge drinking (6 units), by age
Volume 2, Chapter 1, Figure 1C Volume 2, Chapter 1, Figure 1D
SMOKING (Volume 2: Chapter 2)
Fewer than three in ten men and women aged 16+ reported that they smoked cigarettes. As the chart illustrates, this was highest in those aged 25-34 (39% of men and 35% of women) and fell with age to 15% of men and 12% of women aged 75+.
Cigarette smoking prevalence by age and sex
Volume 2: Chapter 2, Figure 2A
The prevalence of cigarette smoking in adults aged 16-64 decreased from 35% in 1998 to 31% in 2003, already meeting the Scottish Executive's 2005 smoking target.
| Men 16-64 | Women 16-64 | Total 16-64 |
|---|
% | % | % |
|---|
1995 | 34 | 36 | 35 |
|---|
1998 | 36 | 33 | 34 |
|---|
2003 | 32 | 31 | 31 |
|---|
Of current smokers, 38% of men and 33% of women smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day.
Within NS- SEC of the household reference person, 41% of men and 39% of women in semi-routine and routine households currently smoked, compared with 17% of men and 16% of women in professional and managerial households. Similar patterns were found for household income and area deprivation. 51% of men and 45% of women in the lowest household income quintile were cigarette smokers compared with 15% of men and 13% of women in the highest income quintile. Smoking prevalence was 27 percentage points higher for men, and 29 percentage points higher for women, living in the most deprived area quintile than the least deprived quintile.
27% of men and women current and ex-smokers had received medical advice to give up smoking, around one in 10 having received the advice in the previous year. Current and ex-smokers in semi-routine and routine households were twice as likely to have been advised to give up smoking than those in professional and managerial households. Similar patterns were found between current and ex-smokers in the highest and lowest income quintiles, and between those in the most and least deprived area quintiles.
The proportion of non-smokers aged 16-74 who reported being exposed to second-hand smoke declined between 1998 and 2003.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONSUMPTION (Volume 2: Chapter 3)
On average, women consumed 3.2 portions of fruit and vegetables per day and men consumed 3.0 portions. One in five (20% of men and 22% of women) consumed the recommended amount of five or more portions per day. As the chart illustrates, the proportion consuming at least five portions a day increased with age in both sexes up to the age of 55-64, and declined thereafter.
Proportion eating five or more portions of fruit and vegetables per day, by age and sex
Volume 2: Chapter 3, Figure 3A
Over half of men had consumed fresh fruit (56%) or vegetables (52%) on the previous day. The figures for women were higher: 64% and 55%, respectively. Women were also more likely than men to have eaten salad and dried fruit.
Fruit and vegetable consumption varied by socio-economic group and was highest among those in managerial and professional households (3.6 portions for men, 3.8 for women) and lowest among those in semi-routine and routine households (2.3 and 2.6 portions, respectively). One in eight men and one in seven women in semi-routine and routine households consumed five or more portions a day, compared with more than a quarter of men and women in managerial and professional households. Consumption of fruit and vegetables decreased as household income decreased and as area deprivation increased.
EATING HABITS (Volume 2: Chapter 3)
The consumption of ice-cream (once a week or more), biscuits (once a day or more), and cakes (twice a week or more) declined between 1995 and 2003. However, there was no change in the proportion consuming sweets and chocolates or non-diet soft drinks at least once a day. Women's consumption of crisps and other savoury snacks did not change but men's consumption increased, particularly among those aged 35 and over. People in semi-routine and routine households, the lowest income households, and the most deprived areas were more likely to consume non-diet soft drinks or crisps/savoury snacks at least once a day, chips and meat products at least twice a week, and to add salt to their food, than those in managerial and professional households, the highest income households and the least deprived areas.
Fewer people consumed at least two slices of any bread a day in 2003 than in 1995. Potato, pasta and rice consumption has remained the same since 1995 but the proportion who reported consuming chips at least twice a week was lower in 2003 than 1995, particularly among men. The consumption of poultry at least twice a week increased between 1995 and 2003 while there was a slight decline in the consumption of meat products (such as burgers, sausages, bridies) at least twice a week. White fish consumption declined for both men and women. The use of butter on bread increased between 1995 and 2003, particularly among those aged under 45, though margarine was the most commonly reported type of spread used overall. The consumption of full fat milk declined between 1995 and 2003.
Fewer people reported adding salt to their food at the table in 2003 than in 1995. The use of vitamin and other dietary supplements increased between 1998 and 2003.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (Volume 2: Chapter 4)
More than four-fifths of adults aged 16-74 were physically active for at least 15 minutes in the last four weeks. The proportions of men and women aged 16-74 meeting the physical activity recommendations (30 minutes of at least moderate exercise on most days of the week) increased from 41% in 1998 to 44% in 2003 in men, and from 30% in 1998 to 33% in 2003 in women. Increases in physical activity participation were particularly marked for men and women aged 55-74. The chart shows how physical activity decreases with age.
Overall levels of participation in physical activity, and the proportion meeting recommendations, 1998 and 2003, by age and sex
Volume 2: Chapter 4, Figure 4A
The most common activity type among men was sports and exercise, followed by heavy housework and walking. For women, the most common activity type was heavy housework followed by sports and exercise and walking.
39% of men and 35% of women spent an average of four hours or more sitting at a screen per weekday. More people did so at the weekend. (Time spent sitting at a screen at work, school or college was not counted.)
ANTHROPOMETRIC MEASURES, OVERWEIGHT, AND OBESITY (Volume 2: Chapter 5)
Obesity depends on a person's weight relative to their height. Mean body mass index ( BMI) was approximately the same in men (27.0 kg/m 2) and in women (27.2 kg/m 2). 65% of men and 60% of women were either overweight ( BMI over 25-30 kg/m 2) or obese ( BMI >30 kg/m 2). Men were more likely than women to be overweight (43% vs 34%). However, women were more likely than men to be obese (26% vs 22%), or morbidly obese ( BMI over >40 kg/m 2) (3.4% vs 1.6%).
Prevalence of overweight and obesity, 1995, 1998, 2003 by sex
Volume 2: Chapter 5, Figure 5B
Among both sexes, there was a steady upward trend in mean BMI from 1995 to 2003, from 26.0 kg/m 2 in 1995, to 26.4 kg/m 2 in 1998 and 26.9 kg/m 2 in 2003 among men, and from 25.7 kg/m 2 in 1995, to 26.3 kg/m 2 in 1998 and 26.9 kg/m 2 in 2003 among women. The proportion of adults who were either overweight or obese increased significantly between 1995 and 2003, from 56% to 64% in men, and from 47% to 57% in women. The proportion who were morbidly obese more than doubled in this time.
Men in semi-routine and routine households stood out as the least likely to be overweight or obese ( BMI > 25 kg/m 2). Men in small employer and own account worker households were the most likely to be obese ( BMI > 30 kg/m 2) while those in managerial and professional households were the least likely to be. Women in semi-routine and routine households were more likely to be overweight or obese than those in managerial and professional households (63% and 57% respectively). The same pattern was evident for obesity and morbid obesity.
Men in the highest income households were more likely than those in the lowest to be overweight or obese (70% and 53% respectively). This was also true for the prevalence of obesity (21% vs 16%). Women in the highest income households were the least likely to be obese. Morbid obesity was around three times higher among women in the lowest income households than in the highest.
People living in the most deprived areas were more likely than those in the least deprived to be obese or morbidly obese.
GENERAL HEALTH (Volume 2: Chapter 6)
Three-quarters of adults rated their general health in general to be 'very good' or 'good' and just under one in ten rated it as 'bad' or 'very bad'. The prevalence of self-reported bad/very bad health varied significantly with age, increasing to 15% of those aged 75+. Two-fifths of adults had a long-standing illness or disability, with around a quarter having a limiting long-standing illness. Long-standing illness prevalence increased with age, from around one sixth of those aged 16-24 to two-thirds of those aged 75+. Around a third of adults with a limiting long-standing illness rated their health as 'very good' or 'good'. Poor self-assessed health, long-standing illness and acute sickness were all associated with socio-economic status.
PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH (Volume 2: Chapter 6)
Women were more likely than men to have a high GHQ12 score, which indicates a possible psychiatric disorder (17% versus 13%). Similarly, women were less likely than men to have a GHQ12 score of zero, which could be considered to be an indicator of psychological well-being, (61% versus 68%). Among those aged 16-64, the proportion of men with a high GHQ12 has not changed since 1995 but it declined slightly for women (from 19% in 1995 to 17% in 2003). In contrast, the prevalence of GHQ scores of zero increased significantly over time, particularly among men. 60% of men scored zero in 1995 compared with 62% in 1998 and 68% in 2003. The corresponding increase for women was from 55% in 1995 and 1998 to 61% in 2003. The prevalence of high GHQ12 scores was highest among those in semi-routine and routine households, the lowest income quintile households, and the most deprived area quintile.
The SF-12 questionnaire, which measures health-related quality of life, was used to assess the extent to which health impacts on people's daily lives. This showed that older people were more likely than younger people to say that poor health and pain affected their lives. Poor physical health was more likely to impact on the lives of people in the most deprived areas than the least. The same pattern was true among women in relation to poor mental health.
USE OF HEALTH SERVICES (Volume 2: Chapter 6)
Overall, women were more likely than men to have consulted a GP in the past two weeks (20% vs 16%) but the reverse was true among those aged 65 and over. Over a third of men and women had visited hospital as an outpatient during the previous 12 months; 9% of men and 13% of women had been admitted as inpatients. The use of hospital services increased with age, and was more common among those with poor self-assessed health. People in the most deprived areas were more likely to have consulted a GP in the past two weeks or been an inpatient or an outpatient in the past year.
42% of men and 54% of women aged 16 and over were taking at least one prescription medication (excluding contraceptives). The use of medication increased with age. One in five women aged 16-54 were using contraceptive medication. The proportion of those aged 16-64 taking three or more prescribed medicines increased between 1995 and 2003, from 8% to 13% in men, and from 10% to 17% in women. The number of medicines taken per person also increased in this period.
DENTAL HEALTH (Volume 2: Chapter 6)
Women were more likely than men to have all false teeth (18% vs 12%). The proportion of adults aged 16-64 with all false teeth declined between 1998 and 2003, from 8% to 5% in men, and from 11% to 7% in women. Most adults with some or all of their own teeth brushed their teeth at least once a day, though women were more likely than men to brush more than once a day (81% versus 63%). Over two-thirds of women and just over half of men attend a dentist at least once every six months, with the oldest age group least likely to attend. People in semi-routine and routine households were the most likely to have all false teeth, to not brush once a day, and to never attend a dentist.
ACCIDENTS (Volume 2: Chapter 7)
For the purposes of defining annual accident rates in the Scottish Health Survey, 'accidents' are defined as non-fatal accidents about which advice was sought from a doctor, nurse or other health professional or which required a visit to hospital.
Men's accident rates among those aged 16-64 decreased from 24 in 1995 and 23 in 1998, to 19 per 100 in 2003. For women, rates decreased from 24 in 1995 and 14 in 1998, to 12 per 100 in 2003. The annual accident rates in 2003 for adults aged 16 and over were estimated to be 17 per 100 men, and 13 per 100 women. Accident rates were highest for men aged 16-24 (28 per 100). After the age of 55, accident rates for women start to exceed those for men.
The annual work-based accident rate was estimated to be 8 accidents per 100 men aged 16-64 in work, and 3 per 100 for women. Work-based accident rates were higher than average for men in lower supervisory or technical households, or semi-routine or routine households.
The annual non-work accident rate was estimated at 12 per 100 persons for men aged 16 and over, and 11 per 100 for women. Time was taken off work as a result of 58% of men's accidents and 55% of women's accidents.
Apart from among men aged 16-24, accidents were most commonly described as falls, slips or trips (63% of women's accidents and 40% of men's accidents). A sport or recreational activity was the most common cause of accidents for young men. Informants judged that about half of these accidents could have been prevented.
RESPIRATORY HEALTH (Volume 2: Chapter 8)
There was a small but significant increase between 1998 and 2003 in the proportion of adults aged 16-74 with doctor-diagnosed asthma (from 11% to 13% for men, and from 12% to 14% for women). More than a quarter of men and women aged 16+ reported a history of wheezing. 16% had experienced wheezing attacks in the past twelve months. Half of those who reported wheezing said their symptoms interfered with their daily activities.
Almost a third of those who had had an attack of wheezing or asthma in the five years before the interview had not received any advice or treatment for their condition. Almost all of those who had received treatment or advice had been treated by a general practitioner (93% of men, 92% of women). 34% of men and 28% of women had received treatment from a nurse: this increased significantly between 1998 and 2003.
The prevalence of wheezing in the last 12 months was higher among those in semi-routine and routine households than in managerial and professional households. Wheezing in the past 12 months was also more common among those in low income households and in the most deprived areas. One in three adults who smoke 20 or more cigarettes a day reported wheezing in the past 12 months, compared with just over one in ten of those who have never smoked regularly.
LUNG FUNCTION (Volume 2: Chapter 8)
Measured lung function increased with height and decreased with age. Mean FEV1 was lower among those with respiratory symptoms and doctor-diagnosed asthma than among those without these conditions. Current smokers of 20 or more cigarettes a day had mean FEV1 values 0.19 litres lower among men, and 0.24 litres lower among women, than informants of the same sex who had never regularly smoked. For both men and women, mean FEV1 decreased as deprivation increased. The pattern was more marked among those aged 45+.
Mean FEV1, by age and sex
Volume 2: Chapter 8, Figure 8A
BLOOD PRESSURE (Volume 2: Chapter 9)
Mean systolic blood pressure ( SBP) was 132.3 mmHg in men and 127.1 mmHg in women. Mean SBP increased with age for both sexes, the increase was more marked in women than in men. Mean SBP was higher among men than women up to the age of 65, thereafter women's mean SBP was higher. Mean diastolic blood pressure ( DBP) was 74.5 mmHg in men and 73.6 mmHg in women and was similar in both sexes for all age groups. Unlike SBP, which increased continuously with age, DBP in men and women increased with age up to 54 and decreased thereafter.
One-third of informants aged 16 and over had high blood pressure (defined as SBP equal to or greater than 140 mmHg orDBP equal to or greater than 90 mmHg or on medication to treat hypertension). As the chart shows, this increased markedly with age in both sexes: from 12% of men and 2% of women aged 16-24 to 77% of men and women aged 75+. (Informants were defined as 'hypertensive untreated' if they had raised blood pressure but were not on any medication to treat it; informants who were on blood pressure medication but who had high blood pressure were defined as 'hypertensive uncontrolled'; those on blood pressure medication who had a normal blood pressure reading were defined as 'hypertensive controlled'.)
Hypertension prevalence by age and sex
Volume 2: Chapter 9, Figure 9B
Of those with high blood pressure readings, more than three-fifths of men and half of women were not on treatment. Of those who were on treatment, fewer than half had successfully controlled blood pressure. There was no significant association between blood pressure levels and socio-economic status or household income. Area deprivation was significantly associated with the prevalence of high blood pressure among women, but not men (27.3% of women in the least deprived areas had high blood pressure compared with 35.8% in the most).
DIABETES (Volume 2: Chapter 10)
3.8% of men and 3.7% of women aged 16+ had doctor-diagnosed diabetes. Diabetes prevalence increased with age in both sexes, reaching around 10% in men and women aged 65+. Type 2 diabetes accounted for most cases of diagnosed diabetes. Diabetes prevalence increased in men and women aged 16-64 between 1995, 1998 and 2003. Men and women in semi-routine and routine households had the highest prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes. The prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes was higher among men and women in households in the lowest income quintile or living in the most deprived areas.
The prevalence of smoking or exceeding the recommended weekly alcohol consumption level was lower among informants with type 2 diabetes than among those without type 2 diabetes, but those with type 2 diabetes had lower physical activity levels. The prevalence of obesity, raised waist-hip ratio, or raised waist circumference was higher among informants with type 2 diabetes than those without, but declined with age among men and women with type 2 diabetes.
The prevalence of high blood pressure (systolic =140 mmHg or diastolic =90 mmHg or on medication prescribed for high blood pressure) was much higher in informants aged 35+ with type 2 diabetes (66% of men and 75% of women) than those without type 2 diabetes (40% and 42%).