A major lifestyle study has shown just how unhealthy Merseyside adults are compared with the rest of the country.
It confirmed that cardiovascular disease in Merseyside people aged 65 plus is one third higher than the rest of the UK.
The 2003 Health Survey for Greater Merseyside (HSFGM 2003) was commissioned by Heart of Mersey (HoM) to provide local data about adults living in private households in Merseyside. It covered the six local authority areas of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St. Helens and Wirral.
A total of 1,113 people were interviewed (46% were men and 54%, women). The survey revealed a number of concerns, in particular the higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease and obesity.
The survey also exposed the stark inequalities in health that have contributed to the high levels of coronary heart disease (CHD) in this region.
Compared with the rest of England, Merseyside residents had:
- A higher prevalence of any cardiovascular disease (14.6% v 13.6% in men, 14.2% v 13.0% in women)
- A higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease in older men and women (men: 44.6% v 33.9%, women: 35.1% v 22.1%)
- A higher prevalence of heart attacks (4.9% v 3.8% in men, 2.0% v 1.7% in women)
- A higher smoking prevalence in women (27% v 24%), equally bad in men (27% v 27%)
- A higher prevalence of obesity among men and women in less affluent households (men: 25.3% v 21.6% women: 29.9% v 29.1%)
- A higher prevalence of diabetes among men and women in less affluent households (men: 9.3% v 5.0%, women: 6.1% v 4.6%)
The report adds to earlier lifestyle surveys by including not only information on risk factors such as nutrition, smoking and physical activity, but also biomedical measures such as blood cholesterol levels.
The work was commissioned by Heart of Mersey from the National Centre for Social Research who are responsible for the Health Survey for England.
