<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the most common disease symptoms in the Slovenian adult population, to determine their prevalence and to identify the demographic and other factors associated with higher prevalence of the symptoms. Methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using computer assisted telephone interviewing - CATI thatcovered questions about the prevalence of 23 disease symptoms in the past month, their duration and general demographic information. The sample included 1,002 interviewees (age 15 - 90). Results. The results showed that the most common symptoms among Slovenian people are back pain (409 interviewees - 40.8%), joint pain (334 interviewees - 33.4%), excessive fatigue (308 interviewees - 30.7%), nervousness (285 interviewees - 28.4%), headache (280 interviewees - 27.9%), irritability (261 interviewees - 26.1%) and insomnia (259 interviewees - 25.8%). Disease symptoms occurred more often in women, the elderly, people with lower education and lower income, theunemployed, retired people and people with a chronic disease. The independent predictive factors for the presence of any symptoms were female gender and chronic disease. Conclusions. The prevalence of disease symptoms troubling the adult Slovenian population is high, as 77.3% of people suffer from at least one symptom. The study showed the population groups thatare most heavily burdened (females, the elderly, chronic patients, people with lower socio-economic status) and to which more attention should be paid in primary health care and prevention.</p></abstract>

Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the most common disease symptoms in the Slovenian adult population, to determine their prevalence and to identify the demographic and other factors associated with higher prevalence of the symptoms. Methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted using computer assisted telephone interviewing - CATI thatcovered questions about the prevalence of 23 disease symptoms in the past month, their duration and general demographic information. The sample included 1,002 interviewees (age 15 - 90). Results. The results showed that the most common symptoms among Slovenian people are back pain (409 interviewees - 40.8%), joint pain (334 interviewees - 33.4%), excessive fatigue (308 interviewees - 30.7%), nervousness (285 interviewees - 28.4%), headache (280 interviewees - 27.9%), irritability (261 interviewees - 26.1%) and insomnia (259 interviewees - 25.8%). Disease symptoms occurred more often in women, the elderly, people with lower education and lower income, theunemployed, retired people and people with a chronic disease. The independent predictive factors for the presence of any symptoms were female gender and chronic disease. Conclusions. The prevalence of disease symptoms troubling the adult Slovenian population is high, as 77.3% of people suffer from at least one symptom. The study showed the population groups thatare most heavily burdened (females, the elderly, chronic patients, people with lower socio-economic status) and to which more attention should be paid in primary health care and prevention.

Prevalence of Disease Symptoms in Slovenian Adult Population and Factors Associated with their Prevalence

Univerza v Mariboru, Medicinska fakulteta, Katedra za družinsko medicino, Taborska ul. 8, 2000 Maribor, Slovenija

Univerza v Ljubljani, Medicinska fakulteta, Katedra za družinsko medicino, Poljanski nasip 58, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the most common disease symptoms in the Slovenian adult population, to determine their prevalence and to...

Prevalence of Disease Symptoms in Slovenian Adult Population and Factors Associated with their Prevalence

Pubblicato online: 02 lug 2014

Pagine: 262 - 269

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2014-0028

Parole chiave
signs and symptoms, prevalence, crosssectional study, population surveillance

© Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Prevalence of Disease Symptoms in Slovenian Adult Population and Factors Associated with their Prevalence

Pubblicato online: 02 lug 2014

Pagine: 262 - 269

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2014-0028

Parole chiavesigns and symptoms, prevalence, crosssectional study, population surveillance

© Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Parole chiave
signs and symptoms, prevalence, crosssectional study, population surveillance