Türkiye’s Ministry of Health has successfully completed the Türkiye Household Health Survey on the Prevalence of Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases (THSA). This nationwide study provides a detailed picture of key behavioural and biological risk factors contributing to the country’s burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which are among the leading causes of illness and death globally.
The 2023 survey was conducted with technical support from the WHO Country Office in Türkiye and implemented by PGlobal under the Health System Strengthening and Support Project, financed through an agreement between the Government of Türkiye and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank).
Using the WHO STEPwise approach, data collection took place between September and November 2023 and involved more than 6000 participants aged 15 and above across all 12 statistical regions of Türkiye. The results will guide national public health strategies, inform preventive efforts and allow for comparison with findings from the previous survey conducted in 2017.
Key findings
The survey results underscore both progress and persistent challenges.
- Tobacco use remains high, with 34.8% of the population using tobacco products and 31.3% reporting daily use. Tobacco use is significantly more prevalent among men (46.1%) than women (23.6%).
- Alcohol consumption is relatively low. While 81.0% of respondents report lifetime abstinence, 5.9% engaged in binge drinking in the past 30 days, with rates nearly 3 times higher among men.
- Unhealthy dietary habits persist, with 87.9% of people consuming fewer than 5 portions of fruits and vegetables per day, increasing their risk of NCDs.
- Physical inactivity affects 32.1% of the population. On average, men reported 64.3 minutes of daily physical activity, while women reported 34.3 minutes.
- Obesity rates have shown a modest but encouraging decline, from 28.8% in 2017 to 25.4% in 2023, primarily due to a reduction among women (from 35.9% to 30.8%).
- Blood pressure and cholesterol screening remains inadequate in some population groups: 16.7% of respondents have never had their blood pressure measured. A significant portion also presented suboptimal levels of HDL cholesterol.
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is notable, with 12.7% of people aged 40–69 either living with CVD or having a 10-year risk exceeding 30%. Prevalence is higher among men (15.6%) than women (9.7%).
At the same time, the survey shows positive trends. The proportion of adults with uncontrolled hypertension has decreased from 57.1% in 2017 to 44.2% in 2023. Likewise, the percentage of people with optimal HDL cholesterol levels has increased.
“Reliable and up-to-date data are essential for shaping effective public health policies,” said Dr Tasnim Atatrah, WHO Representative in Türkiye. “We commend the Ministry of Health for its leadership and commitment to monitoring NCD risk factors and advancing a data-driven approach to health. THSA 2023 offers crucial insights that will inform future efforts to improve population health in Türkiye and beyond.”
The full report is available on the Ministry of Health’s official website.