The Scottish Health Survey 2022: summary report

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