Health inequalities in Scotland report published

A new report entitled ‘The Scottish Burden of Disease Study, 2016’ has recently been published.

The report found that people living in the poorest areas of Scotland have double the rate of illness or early death than people in the wealthiest areas. Nearly a third (32.9%) of early deaths and ill health could be avoided if the whole population had the same life circumstances as the people who live in the wealthiest areas.

The report shows that early death and illnesses associated with the things that can harm health the most, such as drugs, tobacco, poor diet and alcohol, are more common in the poorest areas than in wealthiest areas.

Source: NHS Health Scotland, 24 August 2018