ISD Scotland Latest Publications - Public Health

ScotPHO website annual section updates

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:30:00 GMT

Death section In Scotland in 2010 the all-cause age/sex standardised mortality rate was 668.0 per 100,000 population.� The rate for persons living in the least deprived (10% of) areas was less than half the rate of those in the most deprived (10% of ) areas. In Scotland during 2008-2010 the most common cause of death was acute myocardial infarction (accounting for, on average, 4,752 deaths per year � 8.7% of the total), followed by malignant neoplasm of the bronchus and lung (7.5% of the total) and chronic ischaemic heart disease (6.3% of the total). Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, pneumonia, unspecified dementia, vascular dementia, sequelae of cerebrovascular disease and malignant neoplasm of breast also feature in the list of the 10 most common causes of death. For deaths before the age of 65 years, the most common cause was lung cancer (8%), followed by acute myocardial infarction (6%) and alcoholic liver disease (6%).� Chronic ischaemic heart disease, breast cancer, intentional self-harm by hanging, strangulation and suffocation, other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, mental and behavioural diseases due to alcohol, oesophageal cancer and mental and behavioural disorders due to use of opioids also feature in the list of the 10 most common causes of death in the under 65�s in Scotland during 2008-2010.Chronic Liver Disease (CLD) section CLD mortality rates (1982-2010) by NHS Board of residence broadly follow the pattern of CLD mortality rates already published for Scotland as a whole, with age-standardised rates increasing up to 2004 and decreasing since.� The CLD mortality rates are highest for males resident in Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board, and are highest for females resident in Greater Glasgow and Clyde and North Lanarkshire NHS Boards.The rates of people discharged each year (1995-2010) from acute hospitals with a diagnosis of CLD by NHS board of residence also broadly follow the pattern of the Scotland level trends already published, with age-standardised rates increasing up to 2008 and decreasing slightly in 2009 and 2010.� The age-standardised rates of people discharged per year are highest for males and females resident in Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS Board.

ScotPHO website annual section updates

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:30:00 GMT

Allergic conditions There were around 10,000 hospital episodes due to allergic conditions in Scotland in 2010/11, of which around 8,000 were due to asthma.There were small numbers of admissions for some individual allergic conditions, which means that trends should be interpreted with caution. However in the seven years up to 2010/11 there were rises in the number of admissions and the number of people being admitted for allergic conditions in general, including anaphylaxis.The number of admissions for asthma shows wide variations from year to year, but between 2004/05 and 2010/11 there was a moderate fall in the number of people admitted at least once during a year, from 11 to 9 per 100,000 per year. The fall in asthma admissions was more marked for asthma diagnosed as �predominantly allergic�..There have been falls in the numbers of people admitted with a main diagnosis of food allergy, urticaria and dermatitis. However these falls are likely to reflect changes in the way these conditions are managed, such as more delivery of care through outpatient treatment.Disability The Scottish Household Survey found that 22% of men and 26% of women aged 16 years and over had a long-standing illness, health problem and/or disability in 2009-10. For both men and women this proportion increases steadily with age.In 2009-10 there was a strong gradient in the proportion of adults with a long-standing illness, health problem and/or disability by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles, from 17% in the least deprived quintile to 32% in most deprived quintile.High cholesterol It is estimated that approximately 37,000 people (0.7% of the population) consulted a member of the general practice team (GP and practice-employed nurses combined) at least once during 2010/11 because of a high cholesterol level. This has reduced from an estimated 60,000 (1.1%) in 2003/04.Over the period 2003/04 to 20010/11, consistently, fewer males than females consulted a member of the general practice team because of a high cholesterol level: an estimated 16,500 males compared to 20,600 females in 2010/11 (0.6% compared to 0.7% of the population)A greater proportion of people living in the least deprived than the most deprived areas consulted a member of the general practice team because of a high cholesterol level in 2010/11.

Suicide Database Report

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:30:00 GMT

There was a total of 760 deaths due to suicide and events of undetermined intent in 2009. Of these, 744 were Scottish residents.Almost three-quarters of those who died were male and almost half aged between 35 and 54 years.Among those of employment age, 68% were in employment and a wide range of occupations were represented.Seventy one percent of suicidal acts occurred in a private dwelling.Sixteen percent of those completing suicide died in hospital.Of the Scottish residents, 441 (59%) had been an inpatient in a general hospital less than five years before death. Of these 441 inpatients, 26% had a diagnosis of �Injury from Intentional Self Harm� and 20% had a diagnosis of �Unintentional Injury (including assault by another person)�, at discharge. Twenty one percent had been a psychiatric inpatient less than five years before death.Mood disorders, substance misuse and schizophrenia were the most frequent diagnoses at discharge from a psychiatric unit.

Healthy Life Expectancy

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 09:30:00 GMT

Whereas life expectancy (LE) is an estimate of how many years a person might be expected to live, healthy life expectancy (HLE) is an estimate of how many years they might live in a �healthy� state. HLE is a key summary measure of a population's health.The most recent annual estimates for Scotland are for boys born in 2010 to live 76.3 years on average, 59.5 of these in a �healthy� state. Girls born in 2010 would be expected to live 80.7 years on average, 61.9 of these years being �healthy�.Underlying trends in both LE and HLE at birth show a general improvement in Scotland over recent years.There is a major discontinuity in the HLE series between 2008 and 2009 due to a change in methodology to align with the European Union. This results in estimates of HLE at birth from 2009 onwards being over 8 years lower for each sex. These new estimates form the start of a new time trend for future years.The gap between LE and HLE (the years expected to be spent in a �not healthy� state during the average lifetime) has been fairly constant for females between 1980 and 2008, but tended to increase for males.There are considerable variations in LE and HLE at birth in Scotland between males and females and among different geographical and socio-economic groupings.For example, in 2009-10, male LE at birth ranged from 81.0 years in the least deprived quintile to 70.1 years in the most deprived quintile (a difference of 10.9 years). For male HLE at birth, the figures were 68.5 and 50.0 years respectively (a difference of 18.5 years). For females, LE at birth ranged from 84.2 years in the least deprived quintile to 76.8 years in the most deprived quintile (a difference of 7.4 years) while for HLE at birth, the figures were 70.5 and 52.5 years respectively (a difference of 18.0 years).LE and HLE both tend to be worse (lower) in Scotland than in the UK as a whole. Scotland has one of the lowest Les in Western Europe. International comparisons of HLE are hampered by the lack of consistent health measures. However, on the basis of a related indicator, disability-free life expectancy, Scotland would appear to compare poorly with many Western European countries, particularly for males.

ScotPHO website annual section updates

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMT

From 1993 to 2003, there was a sharp increase in chronic liver disease (CLD) mortality rates (age-standardised rates) in both men and women. Since then there has been a general decline in the mortality rates for both sexes, however, in 2010 there was a slight increase again for males.Between 2000-05 and 2006-10, age-specific CLD mortality rates declined in most age groups. The exceptions were men aged 35-39 years, men aged 85 years and over, all age groups for women aged <40, and women aged 50-54 years.In contrast to other age-groups, age-specific CLD mortality rates in women aged <40 years rose each time period between 1981-85 to 2005-10.In 2010, 4,520 people (2,835 men and 1,685 women) in Scotland had a diagnosis of CLD on discharge from hospital.Between 1989 and 2010, there has been an approximate three-fold increase in the rate of individuals with a diagnosis of CLD

NHS Smoking Cessation Service Statistics (Scotland) 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2011

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:30:00 GMT

There were 228,353 quit attempts made with the help of NHS smoking cessation services in Scotland between 1st April 2008 and 31st March 2011.The total number of �self-reported� quits at one month after �quit date� in Scotland in the period 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2011 was 89,075.The smoking cessation HEAT target for 2008/09 to 2010/11 was to achieve 83,975 successful quit attempts at one month, across NHS smoking cessation services in Scotland. The 89,075 quits achieved exceeds the target number by 5,100 or 6.1%.

Suicide Statistics 2010

Fri, 5 Aug 2011 09:30:00 GMT

There were 781 suicides (deaths from intentional self harm and events of undetermined intent combined) in Scotland in 2010. This is an increase on the 2009 figure, and equates to an age-sex-standardised rate of 14.7 per 100,000 population.Based on three-year rolling averages, between 2000-02 and 2008-10 there was a 14% fall in suicide rates overall (15% for males and 9% for females). The national target is to reduce the suicide rate in Scotland by 20% between 2000-02 and 2011-2013.In 2010, the suicide rate for males was just under three times that for females.Suicide is a leading cause of mortality in those under the age of 35 years.Suicide rates generally increase with increasing deprivation, with rates in the most deprived areas of Scotland significantly higher than the Scottish average. The rate is four times higher in the most deprived decile (tenth of the population) compared to the least deprived decile.Scottish rates vary among NHS boards and local authority areas. Between 2001-05 and 2006-10, the age-sex-standardised suicide rate per 100,000 population decreased in 8 of the 14 NHS Boards and in 19 of the 32 local authorities. For both sexes combined, the rate was significantly higher than the rate for Scotland in one NHS board (Greater Glasgow and Clyde) and one local authority area (Glasgow City).In 2008 (the latest year for which comparable UK data are available) the Scottish female rate (7.7 per 100,000 population) was higher than rates in other parts of the UK, for example, 3.8 for England and Wales*.In 2008 the Scottish male rate was 24.1 per 100,000 population, compared to 12.6 in England and Wales*.A change in the procedure used by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to inform National Records of Scotland (NRS) (formally GROS) about suicides was implemented mid-2009. This procedural change appears to have had little effect on the figures. Full details can be viewed in the http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/theme/vital-events/deaths/suicides/effect-of-09-procedural-change.htmlNRS website.*Numbers of suicides (and therefore suicide rates) in the smaller nations of the UK are subject to a greater degree of year-on-year fluctuation than is found in England. In making UK comparisons it is therefore preferable to use pooled rates over several years. Pooled rates were not available, however, so caution should be taken when interpreting these data.

ScotPHO website annual section updates

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 09:30:00 GMT

Over the last decade, there has been a downward trend in multiple sclerosis (MS) related hospital admissions and this continued in 2009/10. In financial year 2009/10 there were 2,145 hospital admissions where MS was the primary diagnosis, of which, 327 were the patient�s first admission. These figures compare with 2,196 and 327 for the previous year. Updated data on hospital admissions for asthma show a continuation of previous trends, with no clear change in the number of hospital episodes or the annual number people being admitted to hospital with asthma for the first time.Updated data on hospital admissions for epilepsy show a continuing downward trend in the number of emergency admissions in Scotland between 1998 and 2010 where epilepsy was the principal diagnosis.During 2010 there were over 39,000 hospital discharges in Scotland where a diagnosis of diabetes was recorded. However this is likely to be a substantial under-estimate of the true number of admissions due to diabetes.In 2009/10 there were over 2000 hospital discharges with diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes.Diabetes was recorded as contributing to over 4000 deaths in Scotland in 2010.COPD is a chronic lung disease that causes cough and breathlessness. Updated data on the number of people being admitted to hospital for the first time with COPD show a continuation of recent constant trends.Mortality from COPD continues to decrease in men and increase rate in women. The increase for women may be because smoking rates have taken longer to fall among women than men.

NHS Smoking Cessation Service Statistics (Scotland) 1st January to 31st December 2010

Tue, 31 May 2011 09:30:00 GMT

There were 79,672 quit attempts made with the help of NHS smoking cessation services in Scotland in 2010. This compares with 74,038 quit attempts in 2009 (revised 2009 figures), an increase of 5,634 (7.6%).An estimated 7.4% of smokers made a quit attempt with an NHS cessation service in 2010 (6.9% in 2009). Pharmacy services accounted for 63% of quit attempts made (over 75% in some NHS boards).Women were more likely than men to make a quit attempt with an NHS smoking cessation service. The older age groups were also more likely to attempt to quit. The largest number of quit attempts were made by people living in the �most deprived� areas. One month after the quit date, 39% had quit (self-reported �not smoked, even a puff, in the last two weeks�), 17% were still smoking and 44% were �lost to follow-up�/unknown smoking status. There were a total of 31,456 one month self-reported quits in 2010, an increase from 28,208 in 2009 (revised 2009 figures), up 3,248 or 11.5%.Three months after the quit date the percentage quit rate was 16% (based on client self-reported 'smoked up to five cigarettes since one month follow-up'). Quit outcomes based on client follow-up at 12 months after the quit date use data for the 2009 calendar year (12 month outcomes for the full 2010 calendar year are not yet available). Based on data for 2009, the quit rate at 12 months was 7% with 68% of cases �lost to follow-up�/smoking status unknown by this stage. Note: the denominator for the percentages remains total quit attempts made in the year.

ScotPHO website annual updates

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:30:00 GMT

New deprivation specific analyses from the 2008/09 Scottish Health Survey showThere is no clear trend in the proportion of adults meeting the physical activity recommendation across the area-based deprivation quintiles, although for both men and women the lowest percentage meeting the recommended level was in the most deprived areas. People living in the most deprived areas of Scotland are less likely to meet five-a-day recommendations for daily fruit and vegetable consumption compared with those in the least deprived areas. Age-standardisation of the GROS 2009 death data showsIn Scotland in 2009 the all-cause age/sex standardised mortality rate was 679.6 per 100,000 population. In keeping with figures previously published, the rate has fallen consistently over the period 1980-2009. The highest mortality rates were generally found in the west of the country (e.g. Greater Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ayrshire & Arran NHS Boards). The lowest rate (for residents of NHS Shetland Islands Board) was almost 31% lower than the figure recorded for those living within the Greater Glasgow NHS Board. The age-standardised mortality rate for persons living in the least deprived areas were less than half the rate of those in the most deprived areas. For chronic liver disease (CLD), from 1993 to 2003 there was a sharp increase in CLD mortality rates for both men and women, though since 2006 CLD mortality rates have fallen in each successive year up to and including 2009. The age-standardised CLD mortality rate for men living in the most deprived areas was 12 times higher and for women seven times higher, than those living in least deprived areas.

Healthy Life Expectancy

Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:30:00 GMT

Life expectancy (LE) is an estimate of how many years the average person might be expected to live. Healthy life expectancy (HLE) is an estimate of how many years they might live in a 'healthy' state.Underlying trends in both LE and HLE at birth show a general improvement in Scotland over recent years.There is a major discontinuity in the HLE series between 2008 and 2009 due to a change in methodology to align with the European Union. For each sex, the estimate of HLE at birth for Scotland for 2009 is over 8 years lower, and cannot be considered as part of the same series as earlier years. The 2009 estimate will become the first point in a new time trend for future years.The most recent single year estimates for Scotland are for the average boy born in 2009 to live to 76.0 years, 60.0 of these in 'healthy' health. The average girl born in 2009 would be expected to live to 80.6 years, 62.2 of them in 'healthy' health.

ScotPHO website section updates

Tue, 14 Dec 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The ScotPHO website contains comprehensive information on a wide range of topics including behaviour, health, well being and disease and clinical risk factors. Along with summary data and statistics, the website provides background information, interpretation, policy notes, commentaries on data sources, references and links to further information.Annual updates of the following sections of the ScotPHO website have be completed: obesity, pregnancy and births, diabetes and the summary of main surveys used in ScotPHO. This includes text updates with links to and presentation of previously published data, where applicable.

ScotPHO Health and Wellbeing Profiles for Community Health Partnerships

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:30:00 GMT

The profiles present a large number of detailed results. Some examples of key findings include the following:Across small areas of Scotland during 2003-07:Male life expectancy ranges from 59.9 years in Parkhead West and Barrowfield to 89.0 years in part of Moray CHCP Female life expectancy ranges from 70.2 years in Paisley Ferguslie to 92.3 years in Fairmilehead, part of Edinburgh CHP. Across CHPs and local areas during 2007-10:The number of people admitted to hospital annually with alcohol related problems ranges from 654 to 1700 per 100,000 people. The number of people admitted to hospital annually with coronary heart disease ranges from 244 to 456 per 100,000 people. The proportion of the working age population claiming Jobseekers allowance varies from 1.4% to 6.8%.

Smoking Cessation Statistics

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:30:00 GMT

There were 134,656 quit attempts made with the help of NHS smoking cessation services in Scotland between 1st April 2008 and 31st March 2010. The total number of 'self-reported' quits at one month after 'quit date', in Scotland in the period 1st April 2008 to 31st March 2010 >was 52,277.

ScotPHO website annual update

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Allergic conditions: Figures on consultations in primary care and on hospital admissions have been updated to March 2009. In 2009 the most common allergic condition for which patients consulted their general practice continued to be asthma - an estimated 520 people per 100,000 consulted at least once during the year. Around 284 people per 100,000 consulted because of eczema or dermatitis.

Suicide Statistics 2009

Fri, 6 Aug 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Suicide is a leading cause of mortality among young people and Scotland's suicide rate is higher than in other parts of the UK.There were 746 deaths by suicide in Scotland in 2009 (deaths from intentional self harm and events of undetermined intent). This is a reduction on the 2008 figure, and equates to an age-sex-standardised rate for 2009 of 14.2 per 100,000 population.Based on three-year rolling averages there was a 13% fall in suicide rates between 2000-02 and 2007-09 in men and a 7% fall in women.In 2009, the suicide rate for males was just under three times that for females.Suicide rates generally increased with increasing deprivation, with rates in the most deprived 30% of areas of Scotland significantly higher than the Scottish average. This rate remains approximately four times higher in the most deprived area compared to the least deprived area.Between 2000-04 and 2005-09, the suicide rate decreased in 10 of the 14 NHS Boards and in 22 of the 32 local authorities.

ScotPHO website section updates

Tue, 29 Jun 2010 09:30:00 GMT

Four annual section updates will include presentation of new analyses on high blood pressure and high cholesterol and minor updates to asthma and multiple sclerosis. Also published alcohol, sexual health, population estimates and forecasts, cancer, hepatitis C, mental health, and oral health.