Count of adults (15 years and over) with selected long-term health condition(s) in household (CALTHD)

Latest release
Census of Population and Housing: Census dictionary
Reference period
2026

Definition

This variable counts the number of resident adults aged 15 years and over in a household who reported having at least one of the selected long‑term health conditions. These conditions are: 

  • arthritis 
  • asthma 
  • cancer (including remission) 
  • dementia (including Alzheimer’s) 
  • diabetes (excluding gestational diabetes) 
  • heart disease (including heart attack or angina) 
  • kidney disease 
  • liver disease 
  • lung condition (including COPD or emphysema) 
  • mental health condition (including depression or anxiety) 
  • stroke 

Responses to 'Any other long‑term health condition(s)' are not included in the count. 

Scope

Occupied private dwellings 

Categories

CodeCategory
0 No adults reported a selected long-term health condition 
1 One adult reported a selected long-term health condition 
2 Two adults reported a selected long-term health condition 
3 Three adults reported a selected long-term health condition 
4 Four adults reported a selected long-term health condition 
5 Five or more adults reported a selected long-term health condition 
6 Some adults in household had a not stated long-term health condition 
& All adults in household not stated 
@ Not applicable 

Number of categories: 9 

Not applicable (@) comprises: 

  • visitor only households 
  • other non-classifiable households 
  • unoccupied private dwellings 
  • non-private dwellings 
  • migratory, offshore and shipping SA1s 

See Understanding supplementary codes for more information.  

Question(s) from the Census form

What is the person’s date of birth and age?

Has the person been told by a doctor or nurse that they have any of these long-term health conditions?

How this variable is created

This variable is derived from the longterm health conditions question and the age (AGEP) variable. It counts the number of residents aged 15 years and over in a household who reported a long-term health condition. 

If all adults aged 15 years or over in the household did not answer the long‑term health conditions question, the variable is set to ‘All adults in household not stated’. 

If some adults aged 15 years or over did not answer the question, the variable is set to ‘Some adults in household had a not stated long‑term health condition’. 

If a person selects only ‘Any other long‑term health condition(s)’, they are not counted as having a long‑term health condition for this variable.

Visitor‑only households and other non‑classifiable households are excluded. People who were away from the dwelling on Census night are also excluded.  

History and changes

This variable was first collected in 2021.  

In 2026, 'Liver disease' was added as a health condition to the question, and the instructional text for mental health condition was updated.

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