Linked data reveals growing health challenges facing Welsh farmers

New research led by ADR UK Research Fellow Claire Hargreaves has provided one of the most comprehensive pictures to date of the health and healthcare use of farmers in Wales, revealing rising levels of mental health and circulatory conditions alongside increasing use of healthcare services.

The study, the findings of which were published today in a Data Insight, linked agricultural records from the Administrative Data | Agricultural Research Collection (AD|ARC) 2011 – Wales dataset with health data held within the SAIL Databank at Swansea University. By bringing together data from agriculture, healthcare and mortality records, the research followed 18,450 farmers in Wales between 2011 and 2024.

The findings show that musculoskeletal conditions were the most common health issue recorded in primary care, affecting around 15% of farmers each year on average. Respiratory conditions, skin conditions and nervous system disorders were also among the most frequently recorded diagnoses. It is important to note the analysis does not capture undiagnosed, unrecorded or pre-existing conditions – as a result the findings are likely to underestimate the true level of health need.

The research also identified notable increases in both mental and behavioural disorders and circulatory diseases over the study period. The proportion of farmers receiving a GP diagnosis for a mental health condition rose from 4% in 2011 to 7% in 2024, while diagnoses for circulatory conditions increased from 6% to 9%.

Healthcare use among farmers increased steadily across the study period. Outpatient attendance rose from 30% of farmers in 2011 to 42% in 2024, while emergency department attendance increased from 9% to 13%. Emergency hospital admissions also rose from 7% to 11%.

The study found that the youngest and oldest farmers had the highest levels of emergency department attendance, suggesting elevated risks at both ends of the age distribution.

Analysis of mortality records showed that circulatory diseases were the leading cause of death among farmers throughout most of the study period, ahead of cancer and respiratory diseases. This differs from the wider Welsh population, where cancer has been the leading cause of death since around 2016.

Claire Hargreaves said: "Farming communities are essential to Wales's economy and rural life, but there has been relatively little population-level evidence about their health and healthcare use. By linking agricultural and health data, this research provides new insights into the health challenges farmers face and highlights areas where targeted support and preventative action could make a difference."

The research demonstrates the value of linked administrative data in understanding the experiences of specific population groups. The findings could help inform future work across health, agriculture and rural policy, supporting efforts to improve access to care and reduce health inequalities within farming communities.