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Indicators of progress: Definitions, data, baseline and trends information

Milestone 18: Improving the health of families by reducing smoking, alcohol misuse, poor diet and mortality from coronary heart disease

Indicator

This milestone is measured by four indicators from the Scottish Health Survey and the General Register Office for Scotland (GROS). All indicators in this milestone are based on people aged 16 to 64 years except mortality from coronary heart disease, for which persons aged 15-64 are selected (to ensure consistency with available population data).

Availability of data

An additional year of information has been added for mortality from coronary heart disease. Data for reducing smoking, alcohol misuse and poor diet are taken from the 1995 and 1998 Scottish Health surveys. The next Scottish Health Survey will provide results for 2003. Additional information on smoking has been included for 2001 from the Scottish Household Survey.

For the most recent year, a snapshot comparison between Carstairs deprivation quintiles has been provided for all of the indicators and an urban/rural analysis has been provided for all except coronary heart disease (due to unavailability of population data). Information on Social Inclusion Partnership areas has been provided for smoking for 2001. Disaggregation by ethnicity and disability is not currently possible.

Reducing smoking (cigarettes)

The percentage of men smoking cigarettes in 1998 was estimated at 36 per cent compared to 33 per cent for women. Table 18a shows that the levels have remained fairly constant between 1995 and 1998.

Table 18a: Percentage smoking cigarettes, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Health Survey

It should be noted that virtually all women smokers are cigarette smokers. However, in 1995, 34 per cent of men smoked cigarettes whilst 39 per cent of men in total were smokers (this includes pipe and cigar smokers).

Table 18b presents information from the Scottish Household Survey for 1999, 2000 and 2001. It shows that in 2001 33 per cent of males, 31 per cent of women and 32 per cent of both genders smoking cigarettes . It is important to note that as these estimates are from an alternative data source, the data for 2001 is not comparable to that for previous years.

Table 18b: Percentage smoking cigarettes, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Household Survey 1999, 2000, 2001

Carstairs Deprivation Quintiles

Chart 18c shows that men and women aged between 16 and 64 from the most deprived areas were nearly twice as likely to smoke as those from the least deprived areas.

Chart 18c: Smoking by Carstairs deprivation quintile, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Health Survey

Rural and Urban analysis

Data for 2001 from the Scottish Household Survey indicates that 35 per cent of those in urban areas smoke compared to 26 per cent in accessible rural areas. Chart 18d shows the pattern of smoking by 16 - 64 year olds by urban rural classification.

Chart 18d: Smoking by urban rural category, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Household Survey 2001

Social Inclusion Partnership areas

Data for 2001 from the Scottish Household Survey indicates that 46 per cent of those living in SIP areas were smokers compared to 29 per cent in non-SIP areas.

Alcohol misuse

Information from the Scottish Health Survey indicates that the percentage of men drinking more than the recommended weekly level of alcohol was 33 per cent in both 1995 and 1998. For women, the figure remained fairly steady at 13 per cent in 1995 to 15% in 1998.

Carstairs Deprivation Quintiles

Chart 18e shows that a higher percentage of men than women aged 16 to 64 drank more than the recommended units of alcohol per week. Alcohol misuse is broadly similar across the deprivation quintiles for both men and women.

Chart 18e: Alcohol misuse by Carstairs deprivation quintile, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Health Survey

Rural and Urban analysis

In 1998 the percentage of men from urban areas drinking more than the recommended weekly level was 35 per cent, compared to 32 per cent in rural areas. In urban areas 16 per cent of women drank more than the recommended weekly level. The comparable figure for rural Scotland was 14 per cent. Note that the definitions used here for urban and rural areas are different to those used elsewhere in this report. Refer to Annex A for details.

Poor Diet

Table 18f shows that the percentage of men and women consuming fresh fruit once a day increased between 1995 and 1998. However, the percentage consuming cooked green vegetables remained static. Women are more likely than men to eat fresh fruit and cooked green vegetables.

Table 18f: Percentage consuming stated foods once a day or more, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Health Survey

Carstairs Deprivation Quintiles

Chart 18g shows that people in the more deprived areas are less likely to consume fresh fruit than people in the more affluent areas.

Chart 18g: Percentage consuming fresh fruit by Carstairs deprivation quintile, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Health Survey

Chart 18h shows that people in the more deprived areas are less likely to consume fresh fruit than people in the more affluent areas.

Chart 18h: Percentage consuming cooked green vegetables by Carstairs deprivation quintile, persons aged 16-64

Source: Scottish Health Survey

Rural and Urban analysis

The figures for 1998 indicate that people in rural Scotland are more likely to eat fresh fruit and cooked green vegetables on a daily basis than people in urban Scotland. For men in urban areas, 42 per cent eat fresh fruit on a daily basis compared to 54 per cent in rural areas. The corresponding figures for women are 56 per cent in urban areas compared to 61 per cent in rural Scotland. For the consumption of cooked green vegetables, the figures for urban Scotland are 23 per cent and 30 per cent for men and women respectively. This compares to 32 per cent and 35 per cent in rural Scotland. Note that the definitions used here for urban and rural areas are different to those used elsewhere in this report. Refer to Annex A for further details.

Mortality rates from coronary heart disease

The data for 2001 continues the downward trend in mortality rates from coronary heart disease for those aged 15 to 64. Chart 18i shows that men are significantly more likely than women to die from coronary heart disease.

Chart 18i: Mortality rate per 100,000 from coronary heart disease, persons aged 15-64

Note : Data for 2001 are provisional
Source : ISD National Health Service in Scotland
General Registrar Office for Scotland

Carstairs Deprivation Quintiles

Chart 18j shows the relationship between mortality from coronary heart disease and deprivation. For both males and females, those in the most deprived areas are more likely to die from coronary heart disease than those from the more affluent areas.

Chart 18j : Mortality rate per 100,000 from coronary heart disease, persons aged 15-64 by deprivation quintile

Note : Data for 2001 are provisional
Source : ISD National Health Service in Scotland
General Registrar Office for Scotland

Background data

Table 18k : Mortality rate per 100,000 from coronary heart disease, Persons aged 15-64

Note : Data for 2001 are provisional
Source : ISD National Health Service in Scotland
General Registrar Office for Scotland

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