Report: Health Inequalities Statistics Scotland

Scotland’s Chief Statistician has announced the publication of the latest Long-term Monitoring of Health Inequalities: Headline Indicators report.

The gap in health outcomes between the most deprived and least deprived areas of Scotland is reported for a variety of indicators in absolute and relative terms.

Across the full range of indicators, relative inequalities have remained highest for the all-cause mortality, coronary heart disease mortality and alcohol-related indicators throughout the period covered by this report.

Although inequalities for alcohol-related indicators remain high, the difference between rates of alcohol-related death in the most and least deprived areas is currently the smallest observed in the reporting period. Inequalities in alcohol-related hospital admissions (ages under 75 years) have fallen over the long term.

For deaths among those aged under 75, despite a narrowing of the gap between rates in the most and least deprived areas, relative inequality has been stable since 2006 and increased over the longer term. Inequalities in deaths among those aged 15 to 44 years have reduced in the last year. This followed a reduction in mortality rates in the most deprived areas, while rates in the least deprived areas increased.

Between 1997 and 2012, the death rate for coronary heart disease (CHD) among those aged 45 to 74 years fell by 63%. The reduction has been slower in the most deprived areas of Scotland than elsewhere, resulting in increased relative inequality over the long term. However, the absolute inequality gap has narrowed. Heart attack hospital admission rates (amongst those aged under 75 years) have increased in recent years and inequalities widened.

There is no clear long-term trend in cancer incidence inequalities (ages under 75 years), while, for cancer deaths (ages 45 to 74 years), relative inequality has increased slightly over the long term. Of the four most common types of cancer, inequality levels – in regard to both incidence and deaths – are highest for cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung.

Inequalities remain low for healthy birthweight. While low birthweight inequalities have risen since their lowest levels in 2008-2010, these remain fairly low when viewed over the long term.

The figures were produced in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.