Geographical variations in persons consulting rates in general practice in England and Wales

Using data from the Third National Morbidity Study, we have examined annual period prevalence in three large geographical areas of England and Wales--North, Midlands and Wales & South. Standardised persons' consulting ratios (SPCRs) have been obtained by the indirect method using five-year age bands as the basis for standardisation. There were several comparatively small differences between area SPCRs. There was reduced prevalence of diabetes in both sexes in the North; increased prevalence of respiratory disease in the North with the notable exception of asthma: increased prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in the North which constrasted with increased recognition of hypertension in the South and the Midlands and Wales. There were no area differences in the prevalence of mental disorder; SPCRs for preventive care were relatively high in the North; the SPCR for cervical cytology was low in the Midlands and Wales. Although these differences are statistically significant, they were, in general, of small magnitude and do not suggest any major difference in morbidity between the areas.