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Features for Senior Citizens
Most Senior Citizens in England Say Health Good
Despite Long Illness
Two of three live with high blood pressure, 25
percent obese
 March 23, 2007 Nearly two in three senior
citizens those age 65 and older in England suffer from high blood
pressure, roughly one in four is obese, and over a quarter of women and
more than a fifth of men have symptoms of depression, according to the
latest Health Survey of England. The survey found wide diversity among
seniors, with many living healthy, active lives, while others face
severe health challenges.
Health researchers from the National Centre for
Social Research (NatCen) and UCL (University College London) conducted a
comprehensive national survey, interviewing and testing thousands of
people, including 4,000 aged 65 and over.
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Features for Senior Citizens |
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Key findings from the Health Survey for England
2005, which is published today, include:
General health and diet
- More than half of both men and women aged 65 and
over report that their health is good or very good (57 per cent of
men and 55 per cent of women). The proportions are higher for those with
higher incomes.
- 71 per cent of this age group suffer from a
longstanding illness. 42 per cent of men and 46 per cent of women said
that this illness limited their activities in some way.
- On average, older people eat just less than four
portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Less than a third consume the
recommended five a day. Fruit and vegetable consumption is highest in
London and the South East.
Disease
- Although rates of cardiovascular disease are
falling, this remains the main cause of death in England. Prevalence of
the disease increases with age and it is still the most common chronic
disease among men aged 65 and over. Disease rates are highest in the
North East of England in both men and women.
- Arthritis is the most common chronic disease
overall among adults aged 65 and over, reported by 32 per cent of men
and 47 per cent of women.
- Prevalence of untreated hypertension (high blood
pressure) in this age-group is lowest in London and highest in the North
East. The prevalence of well-controlled hypertension was highest in
London for both sexes and lowest for men in Yorkshire and Humberside,
and for women in the East of England. Hypertension is a major
predisposing factor for stroke and heart disease.
Disabilities
- 37 per cent of men and 40 per cent of women aged
65 and over report having more than one functional limitation: seeing,
hearing, communicating, walking or using stairs.
- Fewer men than women aged 65 and over have
mobility problems (39 per cent of men, compared with 47 per cent of
women). By the age of 85 and over, two-thirds of men and nearly
three-quarters of women have mobility problems.
Mental health and social support
- 4 per cent of men and 7 per cent of women aged 65
and over report having emotional, nervous or psychiatric problems.
Researchers believe that these problems may be significantly
underreported.
- 28 per cent of women and 22 per cent of men score
highly on scales monitoring depression. Depression is twice as common
among those aged 85 and over.
- 18 per cent of men and 11 per cent of women
report having a severe lack of social support from friends, family or
community groups. Levels of contact with friends and family are more
likely to be low among men. Those with the lowest incomes are the most
likely to experience severe lack of social support, the lowest levels of
contact with friends and are more likely to view their local area
negatively.
Income and deprivation
- There are significant inequalities according to
income and area deprivation, as well as regional variations in health
patterns. There are many instances where people with lower incomes are
generally in poorer health than those who are more affluent.
Dr Jennifer Mindell, Clinical Senior Lecturer in
UCLs Department of Epidemiology and Public Health and an editor of the
study, said:
This survey is an essential means of monitoring
the health of the general population to inform national health
priorities and policy. It raises pertinent questions, for example, why
the proportion of older people with hypertension that is well-controlled
differs so much by region.
"Many people aged 65 and over have very good
health, but a large proportion are living with chronic diseases. Yet
again, we have found that people with lower incomes are generally in
poorer health than those who are more affluent. We need to know and do
more to improve the poor mental health and the reported lack of social
support networks of a substantial proportion of this age group.
Rachel Craig, Research Director for the Health
Survey for England at NatCen, and co-editor of the report, added:
Innovative new measures in this years survey
such as the Geriatric Depression Scale and tests of physical performance
give us new insights into the life and health of older people and the
difficulties some of them face. The results are of practical importance
for policy-makers for instance, a quarter of women cannot walk fast
enough to cross the road in the time available at a pelican crossing.
Editor's Notes:
The fifteenth annual Health Survey for England
was conducted by health researchers from the National Centre for Social
Research (NatCen) and the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health
at UCL (University College London), and published and funded by the NHS
Information Centre for health and social care.
A unique source of health information, the Health
Survey for England is the most comprehensive heath survey undertaken in
England, covering the adult population aged over 16 living in private
households. It is designed to inform national health policy and
stimulate research by providing accurate and detailed data about the
health needs of the general population.
More than 10,000 adults (including 4,000 aged 65
and over) and nearly 3,000 children agreed to be interviewed and tested
for the 2005 survey. It focused particularly on the health of those aged
65 and over living in private households only. The population living in
institutions is older and, on average, less healthy than those taking
part in this survey.
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