Our research findings
Understanding why some areas of North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have better and poorer health is important to help to reduce differences and improve health for all.
Two studies at Keele University (PRELIM and MIDAS) have investigated the health of the populations of North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. This was done by using information collected from questionnaires, and has allowed researchers to produce maps that describe the proportion of people living in each area (of around 600 households) aged 35 and over that have health problems. The maps allow us to see that the proportion differs between areas.
This work focuses on musculoskeletal conditions (conditions of the muscles, bones and joints, such as osteoarthritis and back pain) and all have the same symptom which is pain.
The maps show that:
- On average one in eight adults aged 35 and over experience pain that affects their daily lives in North Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent.
The maps also show the proportion of the population with pain is much higher in some areas than others:
- In some areas there are one in three adults aged 35 and over who experience pain that affects their daily lives, whilst in others it is one in sixteen.
We have also produced maps of other health problems, such as mental ill health and obesity.
The areas with higher levels of pain also have higher levels of all of the health issues measured. Some areas of North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have higher levels of a range of health problems than others.