LONGSTANDING ILLNESS

Adults were asked whether they had a longstanding illness, disability or infirmity, and if so, whether it limited their activities in any way. Among men, the prevalence of limiting longstanding illness was about 30% to 65% higher for Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Irish men (risk ratios from 1.30 to 1.65) than for men in the general population. For women, Black Caribbean and South Asian groups were about 20% to 45% more likely to report limiting longstanding illness (risk ratios 1.20 to 1.44) than women in the general population.
Chinese adults in contrast were less likely than the general population (by about 40%), and less than all other minority ethnic groups, to report limiting longstanding illness.

Source: The Health Survey of England 1999