Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Healthy Ireland Survey is conducted annually, with a representative sample of the population aged 15 and older living in Ireland. The sample size is typically in the region of 7,400 - 7,500 people. Fieldwork to date has been conducted on behalf of the Department of Health by Ipsos B&A.

The Survey, first published in 2015, gives an up-to-date, annual picture of the health of the nation, reporting on many health-related lifestyle behaviours. With the exception of the 2020 Survey, which was not completed as a result of the sudden onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Survey has been published in Q3-4 each year since 2015. Interviewing for the Survey was conducted by personal interview up to and including 2019; the Survey was switched to telephone interviewing in 2021. The 2023 Healthy Ireland Survey launch is scheduled for Wednesday, 22nd November.

The data from Healthy Ireland Surveys is used to underpin policy development and implementation, to monitor, measure and evaluate progress in implementing various elements of the Healthy Ireland Framework, as well as to meet international reporting obligations, including to the OECD, the EU and the WHO, and to provide information to researchers.

The Survey asks about long-term health conditions every year, including hypertension, which is also known as high blood pressure.

The latest results from the Healthy Ireland Survey, published on 22 November 2023 shows that 9% of the population aged 15 years and over have “high blood pressure or hypertension” lasting 6 months or longer andconfirmed by a medical diagnosis. This is the most prevalent long-term condition reported in 2023. This current figure represents an increase from the 7% reported in 2022 and 6% in 2021.

In 2023, 8% of men and 9% of women report having high blood pressure or hypertension. By age group, 15% of those aged 45 and over report having this condition compared to 2% of those aged 15 to 44. The highest rates of hypertension are reported by 19% of men and 24% of women over the age of 65.

Previous waves conducted from 2015, the first year of the Healthy Ireland Survey, to 2019, did not stipulate whether reported conditions must be lasting for six months or more, nor whether they were confirmed by a medical diagnosis. These criteria have the effect of filtering the less severe cases, and, in their absence, earlier survey waves report higher levels of hypertension in the population, of approximately 12%.

In 2018, more detailed questions were asked regarding blood pressure checks, with 66% of those surveyed having had their blood pressure measured during the previous 12 months, rising to 87% of people aged over 55. This is a high proportion, suggesting that awareness of the need to check blood pressure is good, particularly in older age cohorts.

The Survey also includes detailed questions on self-perceived health, and health service utilisation including visits to GPs, every year. In 2023, 76% of respondents report visit the GP each year with an average of 4 visits per person. This average rises to 90% in people aged over 65.

The Survey will continue to estimate the prevalence of high blood pressure every year; there is scope to include a more detailed module on awareness of hypertension risk and access to treatment, should this be submitted for consideration.

A more detailed breakdown of Healthy Ireland Survey results by gender and age is available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/231c02-healthy-ireland-survey-wave/.