Symptoms by Age and Sex: The Population Studies of Men and Women in Gothenburg, Sweden

Symptoms by age and sex were studied in two population studies from Gothenburg, Sweden. In general, men and women showed the same age-related pattern. The prevalence of the following symptoms increased with age--sleeping disturbances, pain in the joints, pain in the legs, breathlessness, and impaired hearing. Six symptoms decreased with age--general fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhoea, cough, and headache. A group of symptoms showed a curvilinear shape with a peak at the age of 50. In general, women presented more symptoms than men. This was especially true for symptoms of depression and tension. A possible explanation is that women are more attentive to their internal state. A more probable explanation, supported by our study, is that the mental symptoms are related to the woman's situation in life with double work (responsible for both work and family).