Homeless people in Glasgow are over four times more likely to die prematurely than their non-homeless peers, a study by the University of Glasgow has found.

The study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, by Oxford University Press, tracked more than 6000 homeless adults in Glasgow over a period of five years and compared the mortality rates with 13,500 non-homeless Glasgow residents. It found that seven per cent of homeless people died compared to less than two per cent of the local population. The average age of the homeless population was just 32 years. 

Homelessness as an Independent Risk Factor for Mortality: Results from a Retrospective Cohort Study is one of the largest follow-up studies on the homeless to be carried out in the UK.

In both groups it found that women died younger than men. The average age of death in homeless women was some 14 years younger than those with homes. The mean ages of death for homeless women was 37 years-of-age compared to 51 years-of-age in the general population. For homeless and resident men, average ages at death were 42 years-old and 54* years-old, respectively.

The most common causes of death among the homeless are drugs, alcohol, circulatory diseases and suicide.

Compared to people with homes, the homeless were 20 times more likely to die from drugs and eight times more likely to die from suicide. Researchers also found that homeless people who had been admitted to hospital for drug problems were seven times more likely to die from a drug-related cause.

Moreover, the study confirmed that Glasgow residents living in the most deprived areas were three times more likely to die than their more affluent counterparts but being homeless raised the risk another threefold. 

Dr David Morrison, Director of the West of Scotland Cancer Surveillance Unit at the University of Glasgow, who carried out the study funded by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Board, said the current economic climate would add to the size of the homeless population in Glasgow.

He said: “This study has shown that we have a large population of young, vulnerable homeless people who are in terrible health. Poor health and addictions problems can lead to homelessness but after taking these factors into account, actually being homeless raises the risk of death by a further 60%.”

“After many years of increasing homelessness in Scotland, there were small improvements after 2006. However, the latest figures show that homelessness is on the rise, again, as unemployment and financial pressures have led to increasing house repossessions. The impact that homelessness has on health and well-being is greater than other forms of social and economic deprivation. Its effects can be devastating. Excellent specialist health services have been developed in Glasgow for people who become homeless, but we need to more effectively prevent homelessness happening in the first place.”

Homeless applications to local authorities in Scotland increased from the early 1990s to 2005/6 but Scottish Government figures indicated a small fall in number in 2006 - 2007.  Meanwhile Glasgow City Council recorded a six per cent fall in homeless applications from 11,216 in 2005 - 2006 to 10,493 in 2006 - 2007. However, Scottish Government figures released just last week (March 17) reported a two per cent increase in applications for homeless assistance in April - September 2008 compared to the same period in 2007.**

Notes for Editors:

The research paper Homelessness as an Independent Risk Factor for Mortality: Results from a Retrospective Cohort Study will be published electronically by the International Journal of Epidemiology on Sunday 22 March 2009.

Website: http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/current.dtl

Dr David Morrison is the Director of the West of Scotland Cancer Surveillance Unit, based at the University of Glasgow.  He is a public health physician with interests in social and economic inequalities in health, and the quality of cancer services. 

The study followed 6323 homeless and 13 500 non-homeless adults from the year 2000 for five years to compare hospital admission and death rates.

Non homeless participants were chosen at random from the Greater Glasgow Healthboard area based on gender and age. The homeless cohort included those registered with Glasgow City Council as being homeless in 2000.

* Average age of deaths in resident men and women refers only to this study’s group of 13,500 non homeless people, not general population.

** http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/03/17161353/1

For all media inquiries contact Eleanor Cowie in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3683 or email e.cowie@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 23 March 2009

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