CSO health survey finds 83% of over-15s feel health is good or very good

Commenting on the release, statistician Damien Lenihan said the Irish Health Survey provides a comprehensive picture of self-reported health in Ireland.

"This is due to the breadth of the survey, examining aspects of health such ashealth status, health care usage, and health determinants," he said.

Key findings of the survey show:

• 83% of the population aged 15 or older reported their health to be good or very good.
• 32% of the population aged 15 or older reported that they have a long standing illness or health condition.
• The three most commonly reported health conditions reported in the survey were chronic back defects (19%), high blood pressure (16%), and allergies such as rhinitis, eye inflammation, dermatitis, food allergies or other allergies, excluding allergic asthma (14%).
• 8% of the population have reported symptoms of at least moderate depression in the two weeks prior to interview. 10% of 15-24 year olds have reported visiting a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist in the previous twelve months.
• The average number of visits that involved seeing a nurse only within a GP practise was 2.9 per person.
• 24% of the population reported that they were absent from work due to a health related problem at least one day in the previous 12 months.
• 22% of the population smoke and 81% of the population drink alcohol, while 53% of the population are either overweight or obese.
• 10% of the population are providing care to someone with a chronic health condition or an infirmity due to old age.
• In 86% of these cases the person being cared for is a family member and the average number of hours spent providing care is 44.7 hours per week.

For more information check out the survey findings on the CSO website.