The Scottish Health Survey 2022: summary report
Key findings from the Scottish Health Survey 2022 report.
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Chapter 2. General Health
Between 2003 and 2021 the proportion of adults describing their health in general as ‘very good’ or ‘good’ ranged between 71% and 77%. In 2022 this dropped to 70%. Patterns have been similar for men and women, declining for both groups from 2021 to 2022.
- Men
- 2021: 77%
- 2022: 71%
- Women
- 2021: 73%
- 2022: 69%
Most children continued to be described as having ‘very good’ or ‘good’ general health. This remains to be the case for both boys and girls.
- Children: 93%
There was a linear relationship between self-assessed general health and age: in 2022, 85% of adults aged 16-24 described their health as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ and the equivalent figure for those aged 75 or above was 52%. This pattern was similar for men and women.
- 16-24: 85%
- 25-34: 81%
- 35-44: 80%
- 45-54: 65%
- 55-64: 65%
- 65-74: 57%
- 75+: 52%
In 2022, the proportion of adults who self- assessed their general health as ‘good’ or ‘very good’ decreased with increased area deprivation, from 81% for those living in the least deprived quintile (SIMD quintile 5) to 55% in the most deprived quintile (SIMD quintile 1).
- Least deprived: 81%
- 4th: 75%
- 3rd: 72%
- 2nd: 66%
- Most deprived: 55%
Since 2008 there has been an increase in the proportion of adults reporting living with a long-term health condition, although minimal change since 2021.
- 2008: 41%
- 2021: 47%
- 2022: 48%
Prevalence of limiting long-term conditions increased from 26% in 2008, to 34% in 2021, to 37% in 2022. Women (42%) were more likely than men (32%) to report a limiting long- term condition.
- 2008: 26%
- 2021: 34%
- 2022: 37%
- Women: 42%
- Men: 32%
Since 2003, the level of adults with any cardiovascular disease (CVD) has remained at around one in six (14-16%; 16% in 2022).
In 2022, the proportion of adults having ever had any cardiovascular disease increased with age.
- 16-24: 5%
- 25-34: 7%
- 35-44: 10%
- 45-54: 14%
- 55-64: 18%
- 65-74: 25%
- 75+: 36%
Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes among adults increased from 4% in 2003 to 7% in 2018 and has remained around this level (7% in 2022). Prevalence remained higher for men (8%) than for women (6%).
- Men: 8%
- Women: 6%
In 2022, prevalence of doctor-diagnosed diabetes increased from 1-5% of adults aged 16-54 to 11-18% of those aged 55 and above.
- 16-54 years: 1-5%
- 55+ years: 11-18%
In 2022, 1% of adults reported having Type 1 diabetes, with no significant variation by age or sex.
- 2022: 1%
Prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (6% in 2022) increased with age from 1-5% of adults aged 16-54 to 10-16% of those aged 55 and above.
- 16-24: 1%
- 25-34: 0%
- 35-44: 2%
- 45-54: 5%
- 55-64: 10%
- 65-74: 16%
- 75+: 12%
Doctor-diagnosed diabetes was more prevalent in areas of greatest deprivation than in than in areas of least deprivation.
- Most deprived: 10%
- Least deprived: 6%
In 2022, the proportion of adults with Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) was 5%, similar to previous years, and similar for men and women (6% and 4% respectively).
- 2022: 5%
In 2022, prevalence of IHD increased with age.
- 16-24: 0%
- 25-34: 0%
- 35-44: 1%
- 45-54: 4%
- 55-64: 8%
- 65-74: 11%
- 75+: 15%
IHD was more prevalent in the most deprived quintile than in the three least deprived quintiles.
- Most deprived: 8%
- Least deprived: 3%
Stroke prevalence has remained at 2-3% since 2003 (3% in 2022).
- All adults: 3%
In 2022, prevalence of stroke was highest in the older age groups.
- 16-54 years: 2%
- 65+ years: 9%
In 2021/2022, one in six adults (18% of women and 13% of men) reported providing regular help or unpaid care to someone else.
- Adults: 15%
Adults aged 45-64 were twice as likely as others to report care-giving.
- 16-44 years: 11%
- 45-64 years: 24%
- 65+ years: 12%
Approximately one-third of those providing care in 2021/2022 were doing so for up to four hours per week; 33% for between 5 and 19 hours per week and 17% for more than 50 hours per week.
- Up to 4 hrs pw: 34%
- 5-19 hrs pw: 33%
- 20-34 hrs pw: 8%
- 35-49 hrs pw: 5%
- >50 hrs pw: 17%
- Varies: 3%
During the years 2018-2022 combined, around two-thirds of adults providing regular help or unpaid care reported that they did not receive any form of support in this role.
- 66% of unpaid adult carers received no support
One in five adult carers reported receiving help from family, friends or neighbours.
- Adult carers: 21%
This type of support was more common among those providing 35 or more hours of care per week than among those providing less than 35 hours of care per week.
- >35 hrs per week: 30%
- <35 hrs per week: 18%
One in twelve adult carers were receiving a carer’s allowance in 2018-2022 combined.
- Carer’s allowance in 2018-2022: 8%
Among adult carers, the mean WEMWBS[1] score broadly decreased as the hours of care being provided increased.
- All adults up to 4 hours: 49.5
- All adults >50 hours: 46.0
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