Chronic diseases. Prevalence of subjective health complaints in the Nordic European countries in 1993

Background: Subjectively reported health complaints account for approximately 50% of all long-term sickness compensation and permanent disability in Northern European countries. The prevalence of these complaints in the population at large was examined. Methods: Data from national surveys conducted in 1993 of 2, 030 men and 2, 016 women above 15 years of age in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden were analysed. Results: As many as 75% of our sample had at least some subjective health complaints for the previous 30 days. More than 50% had experienced tiredness, 42% headache, 37% worry, 35% low back pain and 33% pain in their arms or shoulders. The prevalence was higher in women than in men. In general, substantial muscle pain was more common in older subjects, but tiredness, headache, worry and depressive mood were more common in young subjects. Conclusion: The very high prevalence of these complaints in the general population should be taken into account whenever these complaints are reported to be due to any new environmental factor or disease.