Health
This section of the Community Area Joint Strategic Needs Assessment provides some key indicators of health at the level of Wiltshire's 18 Area Boards. It supplements the Wiltshire 2022 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment that was produced to support the development of a local joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and is intended to help local communities to understand their health and wellbeing issues and to develop community-led work to improve health outcomes.
Here you can find indicators on overall general health, life expectancy, specific health conditions and illnesses, as well as on physical activity.
The CAJSNA information is primarily shown in interactive charts. These allow the user to hover over them and show extra detail within a tooltip, as well as the ability to remove indicators by deselecting them from the legend.
General health
Self-reported health is an important indicator when considering health across Wiltshire. The 2021 Census asked each respondent to evaluate their own health on a five-point scale, either as “Very good”, “Good, “Fair”, “Bad”, or “Very bad”.
In Wiltshire, the percentage of those in “Very good” or “Good” health is 83.6%, while 4.2% reported being in “Very bad” or “Bad” health. The chart below provides us with a breakdown by Area Board, allowing us to see where there are higher proportions of self-reported good or bad health.
It should be noted that the 2021 Census was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, which could have influenced how someone perceived their own health at that time.
Definition: Percentage of the population by assessment of general state of health from very good to very bad.
Data source and time period: Office for National Statistics, 2021 Census Table TS037 - General health. March 2021.
Life expectancy
Increasing life expectancy and helping people to live well for longer is a public health priority. Life expectancy can be affected by various factors, including behavioural risk factors such as smoking, as well as access to health care, and factors such as income, education, and housing. Life expectancy is associated with the level of deprivation of an area, with those living in less deprived areas having longer average life expectancies than those living in more deprived areas.
In Wiltshire, between 2020-2022, the average life expectancy of a female was 84.2 years. Across the community areas, we can see that the highest female life expectancy is in Bradford-on-Avon, at 86.9 years, with Southern Wiltshire also seeing a higher than Wiltshire average female life expectancy of 86.3 years. Tidworth, Salisbury and Warminster see some of the lowest female life expectancies, at 82.3 years, 82.8 years and 82.8 years respectively.
In Wiltshire, between 2020-2022, the average life expectancy of a male was 80.6 years, which is 3.6 years lower than the average for females in Wiltshire. Across the community areas, we can see that the highest male life expectancies are in Bradford-on-Avon, at 86.9 years, and Malmesbury at 82.5. Both of these are much higher than the Wilshire male average. In comparison Salisbury, Calne and Trowbridge have some of the lowest male life expectancies. Males in both Salisbury and Calne have life expectancies of 78.9 years, while male life expectancy in Trowbridge is 79.1 years.
Definition: The average number of years a person would expect to live based on contemporary mortality rates. For a particular area and time period, it is an estimate of the average number of years a newborn baby would survive if he or she experienced the age-specific mortality rates for that area and time period throughout his or her life.
Data source and time period: Public Health Intelligence Team, Wiltshire Council. 2020-2022.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the elevated pressure in the blood vessels puts additional strain on the blood vessels, heart and other organs such as brain and kidneys. In a blood pressure reading, the higher number is the systolic pressure (or the force at which the heart pumps blood around the body) and the lower number is diastolic pressure (or the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats). A high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or more.
Hypertension is common and can be serious if it is not treated appropriately. It may go undiagnosed as those with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms but it can be diagnosed by getting your blood pressure checked. Blood pressure can be tested at several places including pharmacies, your GP surgery, and some workplaces. In addition, the NHS Health Checks available to those aged 40 to 74 will include a blood pressure check. For more information please visit the NHS Health Check website.
There are several factors which can lead someone to be at an increased risk of hypertension including older age, genetics, excess weight, lack of physical activity, a high-salt diet, tobacco or alcohol consumption. Having high blood pressure can also increase the risk of developing further potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease, strokes, heart failure and vascular dementia.
The prevalence of diagnosed hypertension is 16% of the local population registered with a GP practice. There is some variation between the community areas, with Tidworth seeing the lowest prevalence rate at 12.9%, and the highest prevalence seen in South West Wiltshire, at 19.1%. It is likely that this has some association with the age of the populations in these areas, as age can be a risk factor in developing high blood pressure.
Definition: The percentage of patients diagnosed with established hypertension as recorded on GP practice disease registers. The number of patients with each condition in an Area Board (AB) was estimated based on the lower super output areas (LSOAs) of residence of each GP's total patients, and assigned to AB based on proportion of residential dwellings in each LSOA/AB intersect.
Data source and time period: NHS Digital, Quality and Outcomes Framework. 2022/23. Distribution estimate from NHS Digital, Patients Registered at a GP Practice. July 2023.
Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease, also known as ischaemic heart disease or coronary artery disease, is when the heart’s blood supply is blocked by a build-up of fatty substances in the coronary arteries. While it is a major cause of death in the UK, the risk of having coronary heart disease can be reduced by making certain lifestyle changes. These can include eating a healthy diet, engaging in physical activity, smoking cessation, and controlling blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
In 2022/23, the overall prevalence of coronary heart disease in Wiltshire was 3.5% of the local population registered with a GP. Within the community areas, the areas with the highest prevalence rates were South West Wiltshire at 4.6% and Warminster at 4.2%. Tidworth, Trowbridge, Calne and Chippenham all had the lowest prevalence of coronary heart disease at 2.9%.
Definition: The percentage of patients diagnosed with coronary heart disease as recorded on GP practice disease registers. The number of patients with each condition in an Area Board (AB) was estimated based on the lower super output areas (LSOAs) of residence of each GP's total patients, and assigned to AB based on proportion of residential dwellings in each LSOA/AB intersect.
Data source and time period: NHS Digital, Quality and Outcomes Framework. 2022/23. Distribution estimate from NHS Digital, Patients Registered at a GP Practice. July 2023.
Dementia
Dementia is the term used to describe a range of conditions that are associated with declining brain function, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia and Lewy body dementia.
Although it is not a natural part of ageing, the risk of developing dementia increases with age (particularly over the age of 65). In 2022/23, approximately 4,700 people (of all ages) in Wiltshire had a recorded diagnosis of dementia equating to less than 1% (0.9%) of the local population registered with a GP. A breakdown of dementia prevalence by community area is shown here.
Based on the age and sex profile of the population, and the expected rates of dementia that this implies, it is estimated that, in 2023, 59.8% of people aged 65 and over with dementia in Wiltshire have a diagnosis, equivalent to around 4,500 people. This implies that there are over 3,000 people aged 65 and over in Wiltshire who do not currently have a diagnosis. Whilst there is currently no cure, a dementia diagnosis (particularly at an early stage) can help people to access the right care, treatment and support. It can further help them, along with relatives, carers and healthcare staff, to work effectively together and plan accordingly to improve individual health and care outcomes.
Definition: The percentage of patients diagnosed with dementia as recorded on GP practice disease registers. The number of patients with each condition in an Area Board (AB) was estimated based on the lower super output areas (LSOAs) of residence of each GP's total patients, and assigned to AB based on proportion of residential dwellings in each LSOA/AB intersect.
Data source and time period: NHS Digital, Quality and Outcomes Framework. 2022/23. Distribution estimate from NHS Digital, Patients Registered at a GP Practice. July 2023.
Diabetes (17+ year olds)
Diabetes is a long-term condition where blood sugar levels become too high. There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes where the immune system attacks and destroys cells that produce insulin, and Type 2 diabetes where the body produces insufficient levels of insulin or the body does not react properly to insulin. In the UK, over 90% of adults with a diabetes diagnosis have Type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes can also increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, due to damaged blood vessels. While there are no lifestyle changes that can be made to lower the risk of Type 1 diabetes, a person can be at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes if they are overweight, do not have a healthy diet or have high blood pressure.
In 2022/23, 7.6% of the population aged 17 years and above registered with a GP practice in Wiltshire had a diagnosis of diabetes, which equates to approximately 31,500 people.
Definition: The percentage of patients aged 17 years and over diagnosed with diabetes as recorded on GP practice disease registers. The number of patients with each condition in an Area Board (AB) was estimated based on the lower super output areas (LSOAs) of residence of each GP's total patients, and assigned to AB based on proportion of residential dwellings in each LSOA/AB intersect.
Data source and time period: NHS Digital, Quality and Outcomes Framework. 2022/23. Distribution estimate from NHS Digital, Patients Registered at a GP Practice. July 2023. 90% figure cited in text is from NHS Diabetes website.
Depression (18+ year olds)
Depression can affect anyone and is a common mental disorder. It will affect people in different ways but often involves low moods, feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, and a loss of interest in things you used to enjoy. Feelings of anxiety can sometimes be experienced by some people with depression.
Depression can range in its intensity, with those experiencing milder symptoms still able to continue with daily life but finding things very hard and experiencing a low mood, while those with more severe depression may find day-to-day life much more difficult, alongside possible suicidal feelings.
For information on various treatment options, as well as some useful contacts, please visit the Treatments - Mind website.
In Wiltshire, 11.8% of the population aged 18 years and above registered with a GP practice have a diagnosis of depression. Looking at prevalence rates across the Wiltshire community areas, Tidworth and Trowbridge have the highest rates at 14.5% and 14.0% respectively.
Definition: The percentage of patients aged 18 years and over diagnosed with depression as recorded on GP practice disease registers. The number of patients with each condition in an Area Board (AB) was estimated based on the lower super output areas (LSOAs) of residence of each GP's total patients, and assigned to AB based on proportion of residential dwellings in each LSOA/AB intersect.
Data source and time period: NHS Digital, Quality and Outcomes Framework, 2022/23. Distribution estimate from NHS Digital, Patients Registered at a GP Practice. July 2023.
Emergency hospital admissions for intentional self-harm
Self-harm can involve either an intentional act of self-poisoning or self-injury, irrespective of the motivation behind it or the degree of suicidal intent. The reasons behind self-harm can be different for everyone. For some people, self-harm can be a way of dealing with something difficult that they are going through, such as bullying, bereavement or difficult feelings of depression or anxiety. It is worth noting that this chart only describes self-harm incidents that were severe enough to require a hospital admission, and so only represents a small proportion of self-harm and its impact on people's health and wellbeing.
In Wiltshire in 2021/22, there were 1270 emergency hospital admissions for intentional self-harm across all ages, equivalent to a directly-standardised rate of 259 per 100,000 persons, higher than both the regional and national rate.
Definition: The number of emergency hospital admissions for intentional self-harm as defined by external cause codes (ICD10 X60 - X84), expressed as a directly age-standardised rate per 100,000 persons.
Data source and time period: NHS Digital, Hospital Episode Statistics. Accessed via the Office for Health and Disparities (OHID) Fingertips tool. 2021/22.
Adult obesity
Obesity is a serious health issue and can be a major risk factor for a number of other health conditions such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and stroke. An adult is considered to be obese if they have a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or above. BMI is a measure that takes into account weight and height, and the NHS provide an online BMI calculator which enables you to find out if you are a healthy weight for your height.
The prevalence of adult obesity in Wiltshire in 2022/23 for those registered with a GP practice is 11.3%. The average prevalence of adult obesity across England is quite similar, at 11.8%.
Definition: The percentage of patients aged 18 years or over with a BMI ≥30 recorded in the preceding 12 months.
Data source and time period: NHS Digital, Quality and Outcomes Framework. 2022/23.
Children aged 10-11 years who are obese or overweight
Excess weight in childhood is potentially predictive of adult obesity and elevates risks of developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and various other long term health conditions that can pervade into adulthood.
The National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) annually measures the height and weight of children aged 4-5 years (reception year) and 10-11 year olds (year 6) within mainstream state maintained schools in England.
The aim of this is to provide an assessment of the proportion of children of primary school age who are either obese or overweight. Children are classified as overweight (including obese) if their BMI is on or above the 85th centile of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) according to age and sex.
The data presented here covers the three years 2018/19, 2021/22 and 2022/23. It excludes data for 2019/20 and 2020/21 as data collection for these years was significantly impeded by the pandemic. Over the period analysed, 31.5% of children aged 10-11 years in Wiltshire (equivalent to almost 1 in 3) were recorded as obese or overweight. Comparative levels of excess weight in 10-11 year olds measured as part of the NCMP by Wiltshire community area are shown in the below chart.
Definition: The percentage of children measured as part of the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) aged 10-11 years classified as overweight or obese. Children are classified as overweight (including obese) if their BMI is on or above the 85th centile of the British 1990 growth reference (UK90) according to age and sex.
Data source and time period: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, National Child Measurement Programme. 2018/19, 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Physically active adults
Globally, physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for mortality. Increasing physical activity levels can reduce the risk of developing a number of long-term conditions such as cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and diabetes. Alongside improving physical health, it can also benefit a person’s mental health and increase functional capacity in older people.
Adults are recommended to do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week, spread evenly over 4 to 5 days a week, or every day. Alongside this it is recommended to reduce time sitting down and to break up longer periods of not moving with some form of activity.
This indicator uses the Active Lives Survey carried out by Sport England to estimate the levels of physical activity, with respondents considered to be physically active if they are doing at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity equivalent minutes of physical activity per week. In 2021/22 in Wiltshire, 71.9% of adults are estimated to be physically active, which is slightly higher than the England estimate, but similar to the South West.
Definition: The number of respondents, aged 19 and over, with valid responses to questions on physical activity, doing at least 150 moderate intensity equivalent (MIE) minutes physical activity per week in bouts of 10 minutes or more in the previous 28 days, expressed as a percentage of the total number of respondents aged 19 and over.
Data source and time period: Sport England, Active Lives Survey. 2021/22.