Mortality, morbidity and drug consumption in a rural area (Spain)

A descriptive study was made of the health indicators in 5 rural municipalities of the province of Castellón (Spain), with a total of 1428 inhabitants. This population is characterized by its aging, 36.9% of all individuals being older than 65 years. A retrospective evaluation was made of the annual mortality rates between 1940 and 1990, and of morbidity and medications consumption for the period between June 1991 and May 1992. An increase in general mortality was observed during the study period, though the rates also diminished in relation to age groups, sex and cause of death. In addition, 59.45% of the study population made use of health-care services in the course of one year, an average of 2.59 drugs being prescribed per inhabitant in that same period. Morbidity in decreasing order of importance was attributed to acute respiratory disease, osteomuscular disorders, hypertension, depression and gastric pathology. Medications for the common cold and coughing were the most frequently used drugs, along with pain-killers, cardioactive agents, psycholeptics and non-sterioidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Aging causes the mortality variations recorded, despite the socio-sanitary improvements observed in the zone during the study period. Aging may also be related to the important use of healthcare services and of drugs noted in the study. The highest morbidity rates and drug consumption levels corresponded to chronic diseases that deteriorate patient quality of life without actually increasing mortality.