Background
Methods
Risk factor variables
Statistical analysis
Results
Men (n = 2,941) % (95%CI) | Women (n = 3,633) % (95%CI) | Total (n = 6,574) % (95%CI) | |
---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | |||
16-24 | 14.7 (12.6, 17.0) | 12.4 (10.9, 14.1) | 13.5 (12.1, 15.0) |
25-34 | 16.0 (14.3, 17.7) | 15.7 (14.4, 17.1) | 15.8 (14.6, 17.1) |
35-44 | 19.9 (18.4, 21.6) | 20.1 (18.7, 21.7) | 20.0 (18.8, 21.4) |
45-54 | 17.7 (16.2, 19.4) | 16.9 (15.7, 18.1) | 17.3 (16.2, 18.4) |
55-64 | 15.3 (13.9, 16.9) | 15.0 (13.8, 16.1) | 15.1 (14.1, 16.3) |
65 and over | 16.4 (15.0, 17.8) | 20.0 (18.5, 21.5) | 18.2 (17.0, 19.5) |
Deprivation (SIMD2006 quintile)
| |||
1 (least deprived) | 22.1 (19.7-24.7) | 21.3 (19.1-23.6) | 21.7 (19.5-24.0) |
2 | 21.2 (18.9-23.7) | 20.2 (18.1-22.5) | 20.7 (18.7-22.9) |
3 | 20.2 (17.7-22.9) | 19.9 (17.7-22.3) | 20.0 (17.8-22.5) |
4 | 19.6 (17.3-22.1) | 19.6 (17.7-21.7) | 19.6 (17.7-21.7) |
5 (most deprived) | 17.0 (15.3-18.8) | 19.0 (17.3-20.9) | 18.0 (16.5-19.7) |
Education
| |||
Degree level or above | 24.0 (22.0-26.1) | 22.7 (20.8-24.7) | 23.3 (21.64-25.12) |
Below degree level | 45.6 (43.4-47.7) | 41.2 (39.0-43.4) | 43.3 (41.63-44.93) |
No qualifications | 30.4 (28.4-32.5) | 36.0 (34.2-37.9) | 33.3 (31.75-34.92) |
Missing | 0.1 (0.0-0.3) | 0.1(0.0-0.3) | 0.1 (0.0-0.2) |
Ethnicity
| |||
White | 96.8 (95.7-97.7) | 97.9 (97.1-98.4) | 97.4 (96.6-97.4) |
Black and Minority Ethnic group | 2.7 (1.9-3.8) | 1.8 (1.3-2.5) | 2.2 (1.7-3.0) |
Missing | 0.5 (0.2-0.9) | 0.4 (0.2-0.7) | 0.4 (0.3-0.7) |
Marital status
| |||
Never married | 31.9 (29.7-34.1) | 25.2 (23.2-27.3) | 28.4 (26.7-30.2) |
Currently married | 56.2 (54.0-58.4) | 51.1 (49.0-53.2) | 53.6 (51.7-55.5) |
Divorced, separated or widowed | 11.8 (10.8-12.9) | 23.6 (22.2-25.1) | 17.9 (17.0-19.0) |
Missing | 0.1 (0.0-0.3) | 0.1 (0.0-0.2) | 0.1 (0.0-0.3) |
Economic activity status
| |||
Employed | 62.8 (60.7-64.9) | 49.9 (48.0-51.8) | 56.1 (54.5-57.7) |
Unemployed | 6.5 (5.5-7.8) | 5.0 (4.1-6.0) | 5.7 (5.0-6.6) |
Retired | 17.8 (16.3-19.4) | 21.8 (20.3-23.3) | 19.9 (18.6-21.2) |
Economically inactive | 12.7 (11.3-14.3) | 23.1 (21.6-24.7) | 18.1 (17.0-19.3) |
Missing | 0.1 (0.0-0.5) | 0.2 (0.1-0.7) | 0.2 (0.1-0.4) |
Occupational social class
| |||
I - professional | 5.3 (4.3-6.5) | 5.0 (4.2-6.1) | 5.1 (4.4-6.0) |
II - managerial and technical | 20.7 (18.9-22.7) | 20.3 (18.9-21.9) | 20.5 (19.2-21.9) |
III - skilled | 48.3 (46.2-50.5) | 48.1 (46.1-50.1) | 48.2 (46.5-49.9) |
IV - partly-skilled | 15.6 (14.2-17.1) | 15.4 (14.0-16.9) | 15.5 (14.4-16.6) |
V - unskilled | 6.4 (5.5-7.5) | 8.0 (7.1-9.1) | 7.3 (6.5-8.1) |
Others | 1.1 (0.8-1.6) | 1.1 (0.8-1.5) | 1.1 (0.9-1.4) |
Missing | 2.6 (1.9-3.6) | 2.1 (1.6-2.8) | 2.4 (1.9-3.0) |
Smoking status
| |||
Current | 33.8 (31.8-35.8) | 30.3 (28.6-32.1) | 32.0 (30.6, 33.4) |
Drinking status
| |||
> recommended sensible level* | 28.2 (26.4-30.0) | 15.2 (13.8-16.7) | 21.4 (20.2, 22.6) |
Fruit and vegetable consumption
| |||
< 5 portions/day | 79.6 (77.8-81.2) | 77.1 (75.4-78.6) | 78.3 (76.9, 79.6) |
Overweight/obesity
| |||
BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2
| 65.8 (64.2-67.5) | 60.0 (58.2-61.8) | 62.8 (61.4, 64.1) |
Physical activity
| |||
< 5 episodes/week | 59.2 (57.1-61.4) | 70.5 (68.8-72.1) | 65.1 (63.6, 66.6) |
Multiple risk factors
-
Number of risk factors - Only 2.5% of the sample had no risk factors. 88.2% had more than one risk factor.
-
Risk factors in non-smokers drinking alcohol within recommended limits - Nearly 20% of the population surveyed were overweight/obese, physically inactive and had a poor diet without other risk factors (Table 2); 10% were physically inactive and had a poor diet; 8% were physically active but had a poor diet and were overweight/obese.
Risk factor | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of risk factors | Smoking | Risky alcohol drinking | BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2
| Physically inactive | Diet low in fruit and veg | Prevalence (%) |
5 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 2.9 (2.4,2.5) |
4 | Y | N | Y | Y | Y | 7.7 (7.0,8.5) |
4 | N | Y | Y | Y | Y | 4.0 (3.5,4.6) |
4 | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | 2.0 (1.7,2.4) |
4 | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | 1.6 (1.3,2.0) |
4 | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | 0.5 (0.3,0.5) |
3 | N | N | Y | Y | Y | 19.5 (18.5,20.6) |
3 | Y | N | N | Y | Y | 5.9 (5.3,6.5) |
3 | Y | N | Y | N | Y | 3.1 (2.7,3.6) |
3 | N | Y | Y | N | Y | 2.4 (2.0,2.8) |
3 | Y | Y | N | N | Y | 1.5 (1.2,1.9) |
3 | N | Y | N | Y | Y | 1.4 (1.1,1.7) |
3 | Y | N | Y | Y | N | 1.0 (0.8,1.4) |
3 | N | Y | Y | Y | N | 0.9 (0.7,1.3) |
3 | Y | Y | Y | N | N | 0.3 (0.2,0.5) |
3 | Y | Y | N | Y | N | 0.1 (0.1,0.3) |
2 | N | N | N | Y | Y | 9.7 (8.8,10.7) |
2 | N | N | Y | N | Y | 8.0 (7.3,8.7) |
2 | N | N | Y | Y | N | 5.8 (5.2,6.4) |
2 | Y | N | N | N | Y | 2.9 (2.4,3.5) |
2 | N | Y | N | N | Y | 1.3 (0.9,1.7) |
2 | N | Y | Y | N | N | 1.1 (0.8,1.4) |
2 | Y | N | N | Y | N | 0.7 (0.5,1.0) |
2 | Y | N | Y | N | N | 0.6 (0.4,0.9) |
2 | N | Y | N | Y | N | 0.5 (0.3,0.7) |
2 | Y | Y | N | N | N | 0.4 (0.3,0.6) |
1 | N | N | N | N | Y | 4.6 (4.0,5.1) |
1 | N | N | Y | N | N | 3.4 (2.9,3.9) |
1 | N | N | N | Y | N | 2.5 (2.1,3.0) |
1 | Y | N | N | N | N | 0.7 (0.5,1.0) |
1 | N | Y | N | N | N | 0.6 (0.4,1.0) |
-
Risk factors in smokers and risk alcohol drinkers -The combination of excessive alcohol consumption and smoking was found in 9% of respondents. This group tended to have more additional risk factors - nearly three quarters had a total of 4 or 5 risk factors present, the majority being overweight or obese. Of those who drank to excess but did not smoke (12%), 70% were overweight or obese, usually in combination with poor diet, physical inactivity or both. Of those who smoked but did not drink to excess (23%) more than half were overweight or obese (97% of overweight/obese smokers having poor diet, taking insufficient physical activity or both).
Variable (n) | (2) vs (0 or 1) risk factors1
| (3) vs (0 or 1) risk factors1
| (4 or 5) vs (0 or 1) risk factors1 |
---|---|---|---|
RRR (95% CI) | |||
Sex
| |||
†Women (3,663) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Men (2,941) | 1.12 (0.93,1.33) n/s | 1.28 (1.09,1.50) ** | 1.81 (1.51,2.19) *** |
Age
| |||
†16-24 (567) | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
25-34 (860) | 1.08 (0.75,1.56) n/s | 1.70 (1.10,2.62) * | 1.65 (1.06,2.56) * |
35-44 (1,357) | 1.20 (0.80,1.80) n/s | 1.84 (1.25,2.71) ** | 1.74 (1.15,2.63) ** |
45-54 (1,178) | 1.06 (0.69,1.62) n/s | 1.90 (1.22,2.95) ** | 1.79 (1.13,2.82) * |
55-64 (1,203) | 1.19 (0.78,1.81) n/s | 1.84 (1.15,2.95) * | 1.51 (0.92,2.48) n/s |
65+ (1,409) | 1.19 (0.66,2.17) n/s | 2.00 (1.08,3.71) * | 0.88 (0.48,1.64) n/s |
Deprivation (SIMD2006 quintile)
| |||
†1 (Least Deprived) (1,313) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
2 (1,425) | 0.96 (0.74,1.26) n/s | 0.92 (0.71,1.2) n/s | 0.98 (0.70,1.36) n/s |
3 (1,467) | 0.93 (0.69,1.24) n/s | 1.01 (0.77,1.31) n/s | 1.09 (0.78,1.52) n/s |
4 (1,265) | 1.04 (0.78,1.38) n/s | 1.25 (0.95,1.65) n/s | 1.35 (1.00,1.82) n/s |
5 (Most Deprived) (1,104) | 1.75 (1.24,2.48) ** | 2.21 (1.60,3.06) *** | 3.20 (2.28,4.49) *** |
Highest Educational Qualification
| |||
†Degree or above (1,518) | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
Below degree level (2,626) | 1.33 (1.06,1.67) * | 1.68 (1.37,2.05) *** | 1.90 (1.49,2.41) *** |
No qualifications (2,426) | 1.86 (1.40,2.48) *** | 3.18 (2.38,4.25) *** | 3.14 (2.31,4.26) *** |
Race/ethnicity
| |||
†White (6,440) | 1.00 | 1.00 | |
BME (109) | 0.44 (0.23,0.83) * | 0.32 (0.16,0.65) ** | 0.16 (0.06,0.41) *** |
Marital Status
| |||
†Never Married (1,496) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Currently Married (3,744) | 0.86 (0.69,1.09) n/s | 1.01 (0.79,1.30) n/s | 1.04 (0.78,1.39) n/s |
Divorced, separated, widowed (1,329) | 1.01 (0.72,1.41) n/s | 1.10 (0.77,1.56) n/s | 1.46 (0.99,2.16) n/s |
Economic Activity Status
| |||
†Employed (3,540) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Unemployed (295) | 0.90 (0.57,1.42) n/s | 0.98 (0.65,1.45) n/s | 0.99 (0.61,1.61) n/s |
Retired (1,555) | 1.63 (1.10,2.42) * | 1.66 (1.16,2.37) ** | 2.07 (1.38,3.10) *** |
Economically inactive (1,177) | 0.98 (0.73,1.31) n/s | 1.13 (0.88,1.47) n/s | 1.60 (1.21,2.11) ** |
Occupational Social Class
| |||
†I professional (325) | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
II managerial & technical (1,384) | 1.16 (0.79,1.69) n/s | 1.05 (0.74,1.49) n/s | 1.11 (0.68,1.80) n/s |
III skilled (3,132) | 1.70 (1.18,2.46) ** | 1.42 (1.00,2.04) n/s | 2.05 (1.24,3.39) ** |
IV partly skilled (1,055) | 1.65 (1.10,2.48) * | 1.46 (1.01,2.11) * | 1.89 (1.15,3.12) * |
V unskilled (490) | 1.70 (1.05,2.76) * | 1.72 (1.04,2.83) * | 2.19 (1.17,4.10) * |
Others (77) | 1.50 (0.51,4.43) n/s | 1.60 (0.61,4.22) n/s | 1.78 (0.57,5.5) n/s |
Discussion
Reference | Setting/Country | Study Design | Risk Factors Included in Study | Main Findings | Comparing risk factor combinations in common with our data |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Poortinga (2007) [23] | England 2003 | 11,492 subjects in the Health Survey for England | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity diet low in fruit/vegetables | 26% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors | 27% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors |
Tobius et al (2007) [21] | New Zealand 2002/03 | Over 17,000 subjects in New Zealand Health Survey | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity diet low in fruit/vegetables | 13% had 3+ risk factors 29% had no risk factors. | 27% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors |
Chiolero et al (2006) [9] | Switzerland 2002 | 18,000 subjects from the 2002 Swiss Health Survey | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity diet low in fruit/vegetables | 8% had 3+ risk factors 30% had no risk factors | 27% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors |
Fine et al (2004) [8] | USA 2001 | 30,000 subjects from the National Health Interview Survey | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity overweight | 17% had 3+ risk factors 10% had no risk factors | 41% had 3+ risk factors 7% had no risk factors |
Klein-Geltink et al (2006) [22] | Canada 2000 | Over 100,000 subjects in the Community Health Survey | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity overweight | 8% had 3+ risk factors 21% had no risk factors | 41% had 3+ risk factors 7% had no risk factors |
Schuit et al (2002) [7] | Netherlands 1993-97 | 17,000 subjects in the Dutch population survey | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity diet low in fruit/vegetables | 20% had 3+ risk factors 10% had no risk factors | 27% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors |
Laaksonen et al (2001) [6] | Finland 1991-98 | 23,000 subjects in the Health Behaviour Among Finnish Adult Population project | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity diet low in fruit/vegetables | 10% had 3+ risk factors 33% had no risk factors | 27% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors |
Berrigan et al (2003) [5] | USA 1988-94 | 15,000 subjects from the Third National Health and Nutrition Survey | smoking risky alcohol drinking physical inactivity diet low in fruit/vegetables diet high in fat. | 18% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors | 27% had 3+ risk factors 6% had no risk factors |