Raw Disease Prevalence in Northern Ireland - 2024/25
Date published:
The Department of Health today published information on Raw Disease Prevalence in Northern Ireland for 2024/25, which details figures on the recorded prevalence of 14 conditions 1, including asthma, hypertension, dementia and diabetes.
The prevalence data is collected from General Practices in Northern Ireland and the publication presents disease register sizes and raw disease prevalence rates, broken down to LCG, GP Federation and General Practice levels.
This robust dataset is made up of information voluntarily provided by all 307 General Practices in Northern Ireland. Previously, disease prevalence data was collected as an integral part of the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF). In operation since the introduction of the GMS Contract in 2004, the QOF has now been replaced with a Clinical Care Domain within the Northern Ireland Contract Assurance Framework (NICAF), established as part of the 2024/25 GMS Contract. Practices are required to continue to code appropriately to record that good clinical care is being maintained. In order to do so, Practices still maintain disease registers. The data source is the General Practice Intelligence Platform (GPIP/QOF) maintained by the Strategic Planning & Performance Group (SPPG), DoH.
The 14 disease registers are grouped into categories, which are:
- Cardiovascular 2
- Respiratory 3
- High dependency and other long term conditions 4
- Mental health and neurology 5
Prevalence of some conditions is measured as a proportion of the total number of people registered at a surgery, whereas others are age-specific. 6
This year’s publication includes a report and data tables.
Read the report online: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/prevalence-statistics
This statistical release also includes an interactive dashboard; access online: https://datavis.nisra.gov.uk/health/ni-raw-disease-prevalence-trends.html
Notes to editors:
1. Raw prevalence rates take no account of differences between populations in terms of their age or gender profiles, or other factors that influence the prevalence of health conditions. Year-on-year changes in the size of disease registers are influenced by various factors including changes in prevalence of the condition within the population; demographic changes, such as an ageing population; improvements in case finding by practices; and changes to the definition of the register.
2. The cardiovascular group contains information on:
- Atrial fibrillation
- Coronary heart disease
- Heart failure
- Heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction
- Hypertension
- Stroke
3. The respiratory group contains information on:
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
4. The high dependency and other long term conditions group contains information on:
- Cancer
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes mellitus
- Non-diabetic hyperglycaemia
5. The mental health and neurology group contains information on:
- Dementia
- Mental health
6. Two of the disease registers have a specific age requirement. These diseases and their age requirements are Chronic Kidney Disease 18+ and Diabetes Mellitus 17+. Within this publication, raw prevalence rates are calculated using both the full list and separately using the relevant age group.
7. For statistical or data queries, please contact Information & Analysis Directorate at qofdataenquiries@health-ni.gov.uk
8. For policy queries, please contact Primary Care Medical Services Branch, Primary Care Directorate on 02890 520241 or at gmsenquiries@health-ni.gov.uk
9. For media enquiries please contact the DoH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.