Agenda item

(To receive a presentation from Derek Ward, Director of Public Health, concerning his annual report on the health of Lincolnshire's population)

The Board gave consideration to a report from Derek Ward, Director of Public Health, which provided the independent statutory report of the health of the people of Lincolnshire.

A copy of the 2019 report was attached at Appendix A for the Board to consider.  It was highlighted that the Annual Report was focused on the burden of disease in Lincolnshire.

The Director of Public Health provided the Board with a short video and presentation, which advised how the report had for the first time used the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) methodology.  It was highlighted that GBD was a study into how disease affected the population in terms of morbidity and mortality, which could be used to drive change in order to improve the population's health.  

The Board received an explanation of what made up the GBD; an explanation of Lincolnshire's burden of disease, which provided information of the top ten health issues relating to Years Lived with a Disability (YLD), Years of Life Lost (YLL), and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs).

It was reported that whilst life expectancy had increased, the period of time that people lived with a disability had also increased.  It was reported further that the biggest killers were ischaemic heart disease, lung cancer, stroke, and chronic constructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  It was highlighted that Alzheimer's accounted for nearly 6% of all Years Lost in Lincolnshire.

The Board was advised when it came to Years Lived with Disability the top five disorders identified were low back pain, headache disorders, depressive disorders, neck pain and age related hearing loss.  The Board was advised further that Diabetes and CPD had also been identified as had falls, anxiety disorders and oral disorders.

It was highlighted that when premature mortality and disability data were combined to compare the overall burden of disease, the greatest single burden in Lincolnshire was ischaemic heart disease and the second was lower back pain.  It was noted that when lower back pain and neck pain were combined they became the greatest cause of DALY in Lincolnshire.

The Board was advised that a fundamental shift was required to refocus on prevention and early detection.  It was noted that the greatest risk factor was smoking, along with high blood pressure, high body mass index and high cholesterol, and that these were all risk factors that could be improved.

The Director of Public Health responded to questions raised which included:

·         The level to which the GBD data was available.  Confirmation was given that at the moment county level was the lowest level data was available;

·         Behavioural change – The Board noted that this would be gradual process, but the ultimate aim was to keep as healthy as possible.  It was noted further that everyone had a role in primary prevention; and

·         Cholesterol levels and associated medications.  It was noted that as a result of medications, levels were down to individuals.

RESOLVED

That the Director of Public Health Report 2019 – The Burden of Disease in Lincolnshire and associated presentation be received.