[Gender differences in the use of health care system]

Gender is an important factor in studies of health and illness and gender differences in life span and health status may be explained by differences in the use of the health care system. Knowledge about patterns of health care utilisation may support planning the health care system and ensure that patients receive cost-effective health care. The aim of this paper was to describe gender differences in the use of the Danish health care system.

Data from the Danish health registers were analysed to describe gender differences in health care use. A total of 4.1 m inhabitants aged 20 and over were included in 2004 or 2005. Data covered utilisation of general practice, specialists, out-patient-contacts, hospitals, A&E-departments and drugs.

Women used general practice 47% and specialists 36% more often than men (highest for psychiatry and rheumatology). Women used out-patient-contacts 19% more often than men (excluding obstetric and uro-genital problems 11% more than men). Men used A&E-departments 40% more than women. The use of hospitals was equal for men and women, but excluding obstetric and uro-genital problems men used 20% more hospital than women. Women used 22% more DDDs than men and 6% when excluding sex hormones and hormones for systemic use.

Women used general practice, specialists, out-patient-contacts and drugs more often than men. Men used A&E-departments more often than women and excluding obstetric and uro-genital problems men also used hospitals more often than women. Gender-specific illness explained some of the differences in the use of hospital and drugs.