Publication, Part of Health Survey England Additional Analyses
Health Survey England Additional Analyses, Ethnicity and Health, 2011-2019 Experimental statistics
Experimental statistics, Official statistics in development
General health
Self-assessed general health is an important indicator of the general health of the population. It is a valid measure for predicting future health outcomes and can be used to estimate use of health services and provide information useful for policy development. In older people, self-assessment of poorer overall health has been associated with increased risk of mortality1 and functional decline.2
Self-assessed general health is a subjective measure and may be influenced by factors such as culture, environment and expectation.
1 Mossey JM, Shapiro E. Self-rated health: a predictor of mortality among the elderly. American Journal of Public Health. 1982;72:800-808.
2 Idler EL, Kasl SV. Self-ratings of health: do they also predict change in functional ability? Journal of Gerontology: Social Sciences. 1995;50B:S344-S353.
Definitions
Participants were asked to assess their general health as very good, good, fair, bad or very bad. This analysis looks at the proportion of participants who reported their health as good or very good.
Trends in the prevalence of good or very good health
Between 2011 and 2019, the proportion reporting very good and good general health varied between 75% and 78% of men and between 74% and 76% of women.3
3 Health Survey for England 2019: Adult Health data tables, available via the website https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/health-survey-for-england/2019/health-survey-for-england-2019-data-tables
General health and ethnicity
The proportion reporting good or very good health varied by ethnic group, from 67% to 90% of men and from 64% to 89% of women.
Once age was taken into account, no group of men stood out as having distinctively high levels of good or very good health. Men from Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds were least likely to say that their health was good or very good.
The highest proportions of women who reported good or very good health were from Chinese and Other white backgrounds. Women from Pakistani, Bangladeshi and black Caribbean backgrounds were least likely to say that their health was good or very good.4
4 Ethnicity: p<0.001, ethnicity*sex: p=0.077
Last edited: 30 June 2022 9:33 am