Smoking - The Herefordshire Partnership

Smoking

"Smoking is the UK's single greatest cause of preventable disease and early death. Death rates are tripled for smokers aged 45-64, and doubled for those aged 65-84. Half of all regular smokers will die from smoking related disease. Differences in smoking prevalence between social classes accounts for much of the inequality in health outcome between social classes."
Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report 2003 via www.doh.gov.uk 



The Regional Lifestyle Survey measures prevalence of smoking for men and women separately; anyone who currently smokes is counted regardless of frequency.

It should be noted that comparison with rates based on the General Household Survey 2003/04 (see reference section 48) for the West Midlands region suggests that the RLS results may underestimate smoking rates. However, it is still possible to use RLS figures to consider differences according to age and gender and compare Herefordshire with the region.

Table 1. Percentage of adults (16 and over) who smoke (cigarettes and other tobacco products) in 2005

Source: Regional Lifestyle Survey 2005, West Midlands Regional Observatory & West Midlands Public Health Observatory

The proportion of adults who smoke in Herefordshire (22%) is similar to that of the West Midlands (21%).  Based on the RLS 2005 findings, 25% of males and 19% of females in Herefordshire currently smoke. These rates do not differ significantly from those for the region as a whole.

Chart 1. Prevalence of smoking by age band

Source: Regional Lifestyle Survey 2005, West Midlands Regional Observatory & West Midlands Public Health Observatory

Chart 1 suggests that the highest cigarette-smoking rate in Herefordshire occurs amongst the 35-44 year olds (29%) and this is significantly higher than the regional average for this age band (22%). The lowest rates across all areas can be found in those aged 65 and over.