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For the first time since records began in 1972, there was a decline in the rate of smoking among women, and this trend has been observed for some time among men. Compared to the previous health survey in 2014, men smoked three percentage points less and women 4.3 percentage points less. A total of one and a half million people smoke in Austria, which is 21 percent of the population aged 15 and over, but 228,000 fewer than in 2014.
“The proportion of very overweight people in the population is constantly increasing. Especially in the 60-74 age group, one in four people is now affected by obesity,” reported Director General of Statistics Austria Tobias Thomas. According to the definition of the World Health Organization, 18 percent of men and 15 percent of women are obese, that is, obese or very overweight. The proportion increased by around two percentage points compared to 2014.
“Austria is getting healthier”
Women eat fruits (59 percent) and vegetables (55 percent) more often than men (41 and 39 percent, respectively). However, only seven percent of women and four percent of men achieve the WHO recommendation to eat five servings of fruits and / or vegetables a day. 44 percent of men consume meat or sausages every day, while the proportion is half that of women (22 percent). According to the WHO recommendation, 47 percent exercise at least two and a half hours a week. Young men are usually active in sports.
Medical check-ups are widespread for breast cancer, cervical cancer and intestinal health, emphasized Statistics Austria. “Austria is getting healthier and healthier: the proportion of people who are satisfied with their health status has increased by eight percentage points in the last three decades. At the same time, the proportion of those with chronic diseases is particularly high in the old age, “wrote Thomas. . 75 percent rate their own health as very good or good.
Chronic diseases
However, two thirds are affected by at least one chronic disease. Low back pain, allergies and high blood pressure were mentioned more frequently. Diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and cancer were significantly less common. If a slight majority (52 percent) of people ages 15 to 44 are chronically disease free, 73 percent in the age group 45 to 59 are affected by at least one disease. For the population aged 60 and over, it is even 86 percent.
More than a quarter of the population has chronic low back pain or another chronic back condition (26 percent or 1.9 million people). Allergies are equally common (1.7 million people affected). The third health problem is high blood pressure: 1.6 million people are affected. According to the survey, around 450,000 people in Austria have diabetes mellitus (diabetes). 660,000 people (nine percent of the population) are severely restricted in their daily activities due to a permanent health problem.
For the first time, satisfaction with medical care in Austria was assessed. Six out of ten Austrians describe its quality as excellent or very good. From October 2018 to September 2019, Statistics Austria surveyed 15,461 randomly selected individuals in a personal interview on behalf of the Ministry of Health and the Federal Health Agency. The results are representative of the population aged 15 and over in private households.
(Those: APA)
