Survey reveals one in four have health problems

The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) have published the findings of a second Health and Social Wellbeing Survey.

This report describes the general health and wellbeing of the Northern Ireland population based on data received over a six-month period from February – July last year from 5000 households across the province.

According to the report just over a quarter (28%) of all adults had a health problem or disability that substantially limits their ability to carry out day-to-day activities. Around 10% of men and 11% of women had been told by a doctor that they had asthma. Overall, 52% said their health had been ‘good’, 31% said it was ‘fairly good’ and 17% said it was ‘not good’.

However cigarette smokers were more likely to say their health was not good (20%) than ex-smokers (16%) or those who have never smoked (15%).

In relation to high blood pressure approximately a quarter (24%) of adults had high blood pressure detected by a health professional with the most common advice given to people with high blood pressure related to their diet (76%).

Overall, 39% of men and 42% of women had consulted a doctor regarding back pain, with respondents from a manual occupational background were more likely to have consulted a doctor regarding back pain (44%) than those from a non-manual occupational background (40%).

Respondents were also asked if they had been diagnosed by a doctor or health professional as having a circulatory illness, diabetes or asthma.

The most frequently mentioned condition was asthma (11%) followed by angina (7%).

Angina was most prevalent amongst the elderly with one fifth of adults aged 65 and above had been diagnosed as having angina at some point in their lives.

Asthma was more prevalent amongst the young, 12% of 16-44 year olds had been diagnosed with asthma compared with 10% of those aged 45 and above.

76% of adults had not experienced any of these conditions.

The survey was commissioned by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Additional bulletins will be produced over the next three months to look at other specific topic areas in more detail.

The Bulletins are planned to issue in the following order: Sexual Health and Smoking and Drinking.

(AMcE)