News
Well-heeled householders among the biggest drinkers says new report
17/12/2010
When taking into account age and location, those living in highest income households are also more likely to consume more than twice the recommended daily intake (more than 8 units for men and more than 6 units for women on at least one day of the last week - often labelled binge drinking) than those in poorer households.
The Health Survey for England (HSE) is published each year and monitors trends in the health of the population of England.
This year's report (2009) shows that one in four men (25 per cent) and more than one in seven women (15 per cent) had drunk more than twice the recommended levels on at least one day in the week prior to the survey.
The survey also showed that, for the week prior to being surveyed:
* - Those in the top earning households were more likely to have drunk alcohol than those in the lowest income households. In the highest income households, 86 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women had drunk alcohol. This compares to 54 per cent of men and 47 per cent of women in the lowest income households.
* - Those in the top earning households were also more likely to have drunk frequently (on five days or more). In the highest income households, 29 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women had drunk frequently. This compares to 17 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women in the lowest income households.
This year's HSE also covered a wide range of other health issues such as long term conditions, obesity, smoking and kidney disease. Other interesting findings included:
*- Around two fifths of people had a longstanding illness (41 per cent of men, 43 per cent of women). Almost a quarter reported that an illness limited their activity in some way (22 per cent of men and 23 per cent of women). Overall a lower percentage of men than women reported having two or more longstanding illnesses (16 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women). The prevalence of longstanding illness and limiting longstanding illness increased with age in both sexes. A similar increase with age was also found among those with two or more illnesses.
* - The percentage of adults who were obese has gradually increased over the period examined by the HSE, from 13 per cent of men in 1993 to 22 per cent in 2009 and from 16 per cent of women in 1993 to 24 per cent in 2009.
* - For adults aged 16 and over, self-reported cigarette smoking prevalence was 24 per cent for men and 20 per cent for women. As in previous years, cigarette smoking prevalence varied by age, being higher among younger adults (32 per cent for men and 26 per cent for women aged 25-34) and lower among older adults (11 per cent for men and 8 per cent for women aged 75 and over).
* - 7.6 per cent of men and 7.9 per cent of women reported having been tested for kidney disease, and 1.5 per cent of men and 1.3 per cent of women reported having doctor-diagnosed chronic kidney disease. The prevalence of self-reported kidney disease increased with age until 65-74 and then declined slightly for both men and women. Prevalence of the disease peaked at age 65-74 for both men (3.7 per cent) and women (3.0 per cent).
The chief executive of The NHS Information Centre Tim Straughan said: "The figures show the extent to which people from all backgrounds drink alcohol both frequently and in quantities that could be harmful to their health. They show that a greater percentage in the richest households drink frequently than those in the poorest and that drinking more than twice the recommended levels on at least one day in the previous week is common irrespective of financial status."
The full report is at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse09report.
The Health Survey for England (HSE) is published each year and monitors trends in the health of the population of England.
This year's report (2009) shows that one in four men (25 per cent) and more than one in seven women (15 per cent) had drunk more than twice the recommended levels on at least one day in the week prior to the survey.
The survey also showed that, for the week prior to being surveyed:
* - Those in the top earning households were more likely to have drunk alcohol than those in the lowest income households. In the highest income households, 86 per cent of men and 72 per cent of women had drunk alcohol. This compares to 54 per cent of men and 47 per cent of women in the lowest income households.
* - Those in the top earning households were also more likely to have drunk frequently (on five days or more). In the highest income households, 29 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women had drunk frequently. This compares to 17 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women in the lowest income households.
This year's HSE also covered a wide range of other health issues such as long term conditions, obesity, smoking and kidney disease. Other interesting findings included:
*- Around two fifths of people had a longstanding illness (41 per cent of men, 43 per cent of women). Almost a quarter reported that an illness limited their activity in some way (22 per cent of men and 23 per cent of women). Overall a lower percentage of men than women reported having two or more longstanding illnesses (16 per cent of men and 19 per cent of women). The prevalence of longstanding illness and limiting longstanding illness increased with age in both sexes. A similar increase with age was also found among those with two or more illnesses.
* - The percentage of adults who were obese has gradually increased over the period examined by the HSE, from 13 per cent of men in 1993 to 22 per cent in 2009 and from 16 per cent of women in 1993 to 24 per cent in 2009.
* - For adults aged 16 and over, self-reported cigarette smoking prevalence was 24 per cent for men and 20 per cent for women. As in previous years, cigarette smoking prevalence varied by age, being higher among younger adults (32 per cent for men and 26 per cent for women aged 25-34) and lower among older adults (11 per cent for men and 8 per cent for women aged 75 and over).
* - 7.6 per cent of men and 7.9 per cent of women reported having been tested for kidney disease, and 1.5 per cent of men and 1.3 per cent of women reported having doctor-diagnosed chronic kidney disease. The prevalence of self-reported kidney disease increased with age until 65-74 and then declined slightly for both men and women. Prevalence of the disease peaked at age 65-74 for both men (3.7 per cent) and women (3.0 per cent).
The chief executive of The NHS Information Centre Tim Straughan said: "The figures show the extent to which people from all backgrounds drink alcohol both frequently and in quantities that could be harmful to their health. They show that a greater percentage in the richest households drink frequently than those in the poorest and that drinking more than twice the recommended levels on at least one day in the previous week is common irrespective of financial status."
The full report is at www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/hse09report.