Welsh Health Survey, 2010

These statistics on the health and health-related lifestyle of people living in Wales are based on data from the Welsh Health Survey 2010. Some initial headline results from the survey were published on 19 May 2011. The main report published now includes more detailed information. Local authority and health board results are provided in an accompanying statistical bulletin.

The key points from the latest report are:

Health status, illnesses and other conditions:

• 17% of adults reported that their health in general was excellent, 34% very good, 29% good, 14% fair, and 6% poor.
• 20% of adults reported currently being treated for high blood pressure, 14% for a respiratory illness, 13% for arthritis, 10% for a mental illness, 8% for a heart condition, and 6% for diabetes.
• 27% of adults reported having a limiting long-term illness.

Health-related lifestyle:

• 23% of adults reported that they currently smoked.
• 21% of adult non-smokers reported being regularly exposed to other people's tobacco smoke indoors.
• 44% of adults reported drinking above the recommended guidelines on at least one day in the past week, including 27% who reported binge drinking (drinking more than twice the daily guidelines). However, people do not necessarily drink at these levels regularly.
• 35% of adults reported eating five or more portions of fruit and vegetables the previous day.
• 30% of adults reported meeting the guidelines for physical activity in the past week.
• 57% of adults were classified as overweight or obese, including 22% obese.

Health service use:

• 17% of adults reported that they had talked to a GP about their own health in the past two weeks.
• 32% of adults reported attending a hospital outpatient department in the past twelve months, and 10% reported staying in hospital as an inpatient (overnight or longer).
• 69% of adults reported using a dentist in the past twelve months, 69% a pharmacist and 48% an optician.

Health of children:

• 68% of children were reported to have very good general health, and 26% of children were reported to have good general health.
• 20% of children were reported as having a long-standing illness, including 6% with a limiting long-standing illness.
• 36% of children were classified as overweight or obese, including 19% obese(1).

(1) Using a classification system based on the 85th and 95th percentiles of the 1990 UK BMI reference curves, and not comparable with estimates produced on a different basis or with adult estimates.

Further information

StatsWales website.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 6710
E-mail: stats.healthinfo@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

May 2012 (provisional - to be confirmed on Due Out Soon page)