Ill-health of the nation revealed
● Heart disease, depression, neck and back pain, lung cancer and COPD found to top the list of illnesses in government report
the individual is living in less than ideal health. This results in one figure for each condition – known as the Disabilityadjusted Life Year (Daly).
The researchers, from NHS Health Scotland and the Information Services Division analysed the gender differences and found that women suffered a proportionally higher disease burden from lower back and neck pain, depression, Alzheimer’s disease, migraine, arthritis and anxiety disorders, compared to men. Men suffered higher disease burden from coronary heart disease, suicide and selfharm related injuries, as well as alcohol and drug use disorders and chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis.
Dr Diane Stockton, the study lead at NHS Health Scotland, said: “This set of studies provides the most accurate picture we have ever had of the impact of different diseases and conditions on the Scottish population. It is the first time that estimates of burden of disease have been calculated using the full range of sources of data available, specifically for Scotland.
“There are more personyears of poor health lost due to neck and lower back pain than are lost are due to early heart disease deaths, and more person-years of poor health lost due to depression than lung cancer deaths. This is a stark reminder that living longer does not necessarily equate to healthy, happy life.”
Age differences were also analysed – adults aged 35 to 64 suffered 40 per cent of the disease burden and those aged 65 and over experienced 45 per cent.
For those aged less than 65 around 60 per cent of their burden is through living in less than ideal health.
Dr Ian Grant, principal researcher at Information Services Division said: “Today’s report is just the beginning.
“Over the coming months we will be publishing further material to help support local planning and national decision making. This will include the likely impact of the ageing population, socio-economic analysis and analysis by local area. Arming planners and decision-makers with this information will be a significant step forward in ensuring that services and policies are well targeted to the Scottish people.”
To get the relevant data for the whole of Scotland, the researchers extracted information from hospital, GP and prescribing recording systems, and also disease registers. Where necessary, they also used information from surveys, research studies or expert-informed estimates.
Mental Health Minister Maureen Watt: “Our new tenyear Mental Health Strategy has improving access to services and supporting earlier intervention at its heart. Our vision is of a Scotland where people can get the right help at the right time, expect recovery, and fully enjoy their rights, free from discrimination and stigma.
“The strategy has been shaped by the feedback from people affected by mental illhealth. Whether in schools, workplaces, communities or care facilities, we will take forward an initial 40 actions to shape change and ensure mental health has true parity of esteem with physical health.”
The information will help policy-makers to focus on policies that could prevent these conditions, and the services needed to help those living with these illnesses. The next step for the team is to publish estimates of burden by local area and levels of deprivation. They will also provide projections of burden up to 2025 – allowing local health and social care planners to assess their workforce and services against the demands likely to face them.
Miles Briggs MSP, shadow health secretary, said: “This is a useful piece of research which should help policy makers plan future health service provision and health education and focus resources on key areas.
“While some of the findings are not unexpected, for example the impact of heart disease on the population, it is striking that this study finds that more person-years of poor health are lost due to depression than lung cancer deaths. With anxiety disorders also featuring in the top ten conditions, this report should be a reminder to the Scottish Government of the importance of investing in better mental health services.”
There is already a Global Burden of Disease study which describes fatal and non-fatal burden from major diseases, injuries and risk factors to health at global, national and regional levels.