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. 2019 Jul 2;69(685):e515–e525. doi: 10.3399/bjgp19X704609

Table 2.

Prevalence of health conditions among homeless registrants and comparison data with available literature (N= 928)

Health conditions Mean age (SD) with the condition, years Mean age (SD) with no condition, years P-value Prevalence n (%) Prevalence in English or UK general population Prevalence in homeless population (UK or international literature)
Male n (%) Female n (%) P-value All registrants n
Mental health conditions Mental health register 40.0 (9.6) 38.2 (11.7) 0.169 54 (6.5) 6 (6.2) 1.000 60 (6.5) 0.9%14 Not available
Depression 39.6 (10.4) 38.2 (11.7) 0.172 95 (11.4) 13 (13.4) 0.567 108 (11.6) 9.1%14 42.1%, Glasgow15
36% England16
29.7% Leicester17
50% Dublin18
Alcohol dependence 43.3 (10.2) 37.0 (11.5) <0.001 176 (21.2) 22 (22.7) 0.733 198 (21.3) 1.4%19 29% Leicester17
56.4% Glasgow15
53% Dublin18
37.9% Western countries20
Substance dependence 39.5 (7.9) 38.1 (12.0) 0.102 109 (13.1) 16 (16.5) 0.356 125 (13.5) 4.3% male,21
1.9% female21 		66% Leicester17
62.4% Glasgow15
33% Dublin18
24.4% Western countries20
Cardiovascular health conditions Coronary heart disease register 53.0 (12.0)a 38.1 (11.4) <0.001 14 (1.7) 0 (0.0) N/A 14 (1.5) 3.2%14 Not available
Stroke/TIA register 62.0 (34.0)a 38.3 (11.5) <0.001 3 (0.4) 0 (0.0) N/A 3 (0.3) 1.7%14 20% US22
2% Dublin17
Hypertension register 55.0 (13.0) 37.7 (11.2) <0.001 37 (4.5) 2 (2.1) 0.420 39 (4.2) 13.8%14 27% US23
22% Dublin17
Atrial fibrillation register 69.5 (23.0)a 38.3 (11.5) <0.001 2 (0.2) 0 (0.0) N/A 2 (0.2) 1.8%14 Not available
Infectious diseases Hepatitis C 42.0 (8.6) 38.1 (11.7) 0.002 50 (6.0) 8 (8.2) 0.390 58 (6.3) 0.67%24 24.8% Glasgow15
11.3% Leicester17
23% Dublin18
HIV 38.0 (17.0)a 38.3 (11.6) 0.833 4 (0.5) 2 (2.1) 0.123 6 (0.6) 0.16%25 0.5% Leicester17
6% Dublin18
Sexually transmitted infections 40.0 (9.4) 38.2 (11.7) 0.100 73 (8.8) 14 (14.4) 0.071 87 (9.4) — 0.9–52.5% US26
8% Dublin17
Respiratory illnesses COPD register 54.5 (13.0)a 38.1 (11.4) <0.001 13 (1.6) 1 (1.0) 1.000 14 (1.5) 1.9%14 1.7% Leicester17
3% Dublin18
4–5% UK, Europe, and US27–29
Asthma register 42.0 (8.8) 38.2 (11.6) 0.011 30 (3.6) 9 (9.3) 0.015 39 (4.2) 5.9%14 16% Leicester17
21% Dublin18
Neurological disorders Epilepsy 38.0 (15.0) 38.3 (11.6) 0.279 11 (1.3) 2 (2.1) 0.637 13 (1.4) 0.8%14 8.1% Paris30
4% UK31
6% Canada32
8% Dublin18
Migraine 40.5 (24.0) 38.3 (11.5) 0.897 7 (0.8) 3 (3.1) 0.077 10 (1.1) 15%33 25–36% Canada34,35
Other chronic health conditions Diabetes 54.0 (14.0)a 37.9 (11.3) <0.001 25 (3.0) 1 (1.0) 0.509 26 (2.8) 6.7%14 8.0% Ireland36
6.1% Paris37
8.0–12.0% US23,38
4% Canada38
8% Dublin18
Cancer 52.0 (10.0)a 38.3 (11.5) 0.043 3 (0.4) 1 (1.0) 0.357 4 (0.4) 2.6%14 3% Dublin18
Learning disabilities 40.0 (29.0)a 38.3 (11.5) 0.763 3 (0.4) 0 (0.0) 1.000 3 (0.3) 0.5%14 12% England39
36% Canada40
29.5% Netherlands41
39% Japan42
Rheumatoid arthritis 40.0 (NA)a 38.3 (11.6) 0.885 1 (0.1) 0 (0.0) 1.000 1 (0.1) 0.714 6% Dublin18
Leg ulcers 44.1 (10.6) 37.9 (11.5) <0.001 51 (6.1) 9 (9.3) 0.234 60 (6.5) 1%43 Not available
GI ulcers or bleed 43.0 (20.0)a 38.3 (11.6) 0.619 6 (0.7) 0 (0.0) 1.000 6 (0.6) 10% lifetime prevalence44
0.12–15% yearly45 		11% Dublin46
a

Median (interquartile range).

b

The US has a much larger proportion of African Caribbean population with much higher rates of hypertension; a study from England has found the prevalence of hypertension in those aged <40 years to be just 3.3%,47 and 40.9% in the current study of this (the current study’s) participants are <40 years. COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. GI = gastrointestinal. TIA = transient ischaemic attack.