Smoking
Smoking remains the single biggest cause of inequalities in preventable ill health and premature death in Blackburn with Darwen. Deaths attributable to smoking are higher than the national averages and account for an average of 253 deaths per year in the Borough.
In 2006 the local Health and Community Survey found that 27% of adults in the Borough smoked, compared with 24% nationally. Local smoking rates in men are higher than nationally (32% compared with 25%), while at 22%, smoking rates in women are similar.
A health equity audit conducted in 2007 found lower access to the Specialist Smoking Cessation Service by men, South Asian communities and in the Bastwell / Banktop area of the Borough. These issues are being addressed through current service developments.
For more local information see Chapter 5 of the Blackburn with Darwen 2007 Annual Public Health Report.
You can also download a copy of the 2007 Smoking Cessation Health Equity Audit.
Alcohol
The North West region has the highest rates of alcohol consumption in the country and correspondingly, among the highest rates of alcohol related death and ill health.
Based on extrapolation of local and national figures, local research carried out in 2006 estimated that there are 24,000 to 25,000 hazardous and harmful drinkers and 3,000 dependant drinkers in the Borough.
In 2006/07 the local alcohol-related hospital admission rate was over 2,000/100,000 population, ranking Blackburn with Darwen 17th highest in the country, having increased by 43% on 2005/06, the highest proportional increase of any PCT in the country.
Chronic liver disease, including cirrhosis
In 2006 there were 26 deaths from chronic liver disease in Blackburn with Darwen, all but one under the age of 75.
The local premature death rate due to chronic liver disease in men has increased three-fold since 1993-95, to stand at 29/100,000 population in 2005-07, significantly higher than both national and regional rates of 14 and 20/100,000 respectively.
In women, the local premature death rate due to chronic liver disease in women stood at 11/100,000 population in 2005-07, comparable with national and regional rates of 7 and 11/100,000 respectively.
Table 1. Deaths from chronic liver disease, all ages, 2005-07
Figure 1. Trend in deaths from chronic liver disease, males all ages, 1993-95 to 2005-07.
Figure 2. Trend in deaths from chronic liver disease, females all ages, 1993-95 to 2005-07.
For more local information see Chapter 6 of the Blackburn with Darwen 2007 Annual Public Health Report.
You can also download a copy of the North West Public Health Observatory Profile of Alcohol Related Harm for Blackburn with Darwen.
Physical Activity
Local results of the 2006 national Active People Survey found that only 16% of local adults achieve the recommended level of 3X30 minutes of moderate physical activity per week, compared with 21% nationally. This result ranks Blackburn with Darwen the lowest local authority area in the North West and one of the lowest in the country.
Locally, more men achieve this level of physical activity than women (20% compared with 13%), white more than non-white (18% compared with 11%) and young more than older (22% of those aged 16-34 compared with 8% of those aged 55+).
58% of adults and 72% of those aged over 50 yrs do no physical activity at all.
For more local information see Chapter 3 of the Blackburn with Darwen 2007 Annual Public Health Report.
Healthy eating
The local 2006 Health and Community Survey also found that just under 20% of adults in the Borough eat 5 or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day. This compares very closely to the findings of the national Health Survey for England (2003-5), which found over a quarter of adults eat 5 or more portions of fruit or vegetables per day, and places Blackburn with Darwen significantly lower than this.
Obesity
The Health Survey for England also found that nationally, 24% of adults are obese (BMI of over 30), but puts the local estimate significantly higher at 27%.
Diabetes
Obesity, increasing age and ethnicity are some of the main risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
In 2006/07 local GP practices identified 7,100 adults with diabetes, giving a crude prevalence of 4.3%, compared to an expected prevalence of 5.2% when standardised for age, gender and deprivation.
Between 2001 and 2010 the prevalence of diabetes in Blackburn with Darwen is projected to increase, based on demographic changes and increasing levels of obesity, from 4.8% of the population to 5.4%, representing an additional 1,000 local people living with diabetes.
Sexual Health
In 2006 the North West Public Health Observatory developed profiles of the sexual health of people living in every local authority in the North West, accessible through an on-line profiling tool.
An electronic copy of the full report can also be downloaded below.
For more local information see Chapter 10 of the Blackburn with Darwen 2007 Annual Public Health Report.
