Has the person been told by a doctor or nurse that they have any of these long-term health conditions?
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Description
This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: Has Person 1 been told by a doctor or nurse that they have any of these long-term health conditions?
Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Include health conditions that have lasted or are expected to last for six months or more. Include health conditions that: may recur from time to time, or are controlled by medication, therapy or treatment, or are in remission.
‘Mental health condition’ refers to a wide range of conditions that can affect a person’s mood, thinking and behaviour. Select all that apply.
The response options 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; Any other long-term health condition(s); No long-term health condition(s).
How this variable is created
This variable is based on answers to the long‑term health conditions question. It identifies people who have certain combinations of health conditions, known as comorbidities.
People who select both ‘Arthritis’ and ‘Mental health condition (including depression or anxiety)’ are coded as ‘Has arthritis and mental health condition’. Respondents may have other long‑term health conditions, but those conditions are not captured in this variable. All other responses, including ‘No long-term health condition’, are coded as ‘Does not have arthritis and mental health condition’.
If a person has more than one specified combination of long‑term health conditions, they are included in each relevant comorbidity health variable.
History and changes
This was a new variable in 2021.
In 2026, additional instructional text relating to mental health was included in the question.
