The Scottish Health Survey 2022: summary report

Chapter 3. Respiratory

Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma has ranged from 13% to 17% since 2003, and has remained between 16% and 17% since 2017.

• 2003: 13%
• 2008: 13%
• 2010: 14%
• 2012: 16%
• 2013: 16%
• 2014: 17%
• 2015: 17%
• 2016: 15%
• 2017: 16%
• 2018: 17%
• 2019: 16%
• 2021: 16%
• 2022: 17%

A higher prevalence of doctor-diagnosed asthma was recorded among children aged 8-15 compared with those aged 0-7:

• 0-7 years: 6%
• 8-15 years: 13%

Among those aged 25-34, just over a fifth of women reported having wheezed in the last 12 months, a higher proportion than among men in the same age group.

• Women 25-34: 22%
• Men 25-34: 11%

In 2022, the proportion of adults who reported having wheezed in the last 12 months decreased from

• Most deprived: 23%
• 2th: 20%
• 3rd: 16%
• 4nd: 14%
• Least deprived: 12%

Adults who smoked 20 or more cigarettes a day were more likely to report having wheezed in the past 12 months than non/occasional smokers.

• Smokers: 40%
• Non-smokers: 12%

Prevalence of doctor-diagnosed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) increased with age, from:

• <1% of those aged 16-44 years
• 12-13% of those aged >65 years

In 2022, prevalence of doctor-diagnosed COPD varied as follows:

• 2% of adults who had never smoked or had smoked occasionally
• 7% of adults who had smoked previously
• 11% of current smokers (<20 cigarettes per day)
• 19% current smokers of 20 or more cigarettes per day

In 2018/19/21/22 combined, the most common forms of treatment received by all adults for a COPD were:

• Medication: 64%
• Regular check-ups: 53%
• Immunisations: 28%

In 2022, 13% of adults reported that they ever had long COVID^[3], while prevalence among children was 4%. Those aged 45-54 were most likely to report having ever had long COVID (19%).

• 0-15: 4%
• 16-24: 9%
• 25-34: 10%
• 35-44: 14%
• 45-54: 19%
• 55-64: 16%
• 65-74: 10%
• 75+: 7%