Health, disorders, and drug consumption in an elderly population in northern Sweden

A population study of health state, care, and drug consumption among 187 70-, 75-, and 79-year-old persons in Umeå, Sweden, was performed. It was shown subsequently that women felt less healthy and had a higher drug consumption than men, while concerning definable diseases there was no sex difference. Only 13% of the subjects were considered medically healthy, i.e., without definable diseases. 69% had been hospitalized over the age of 60 years.