USE OF ANALGESICS IN SWEDEN - THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS, PHYSICAL-FITNESS, HEALTH AND HEALTH-RELATED FACTORS, AND WORKING-CONDITIONS

In this study, factors related to analgesic use-independent of their a ssociation with pain-were studied in the general Swedish population. T hese included sociodemographics, health and health-related factors, ph ysical fitness and working conditions. Data from the Swedish Survey of Living Conditions for the two-year period 1988/89 were used. In this survey a random sample (n = 13,295, response rate 79.4%) of the Swedis h population aged 16 years and older was interviewed about health, med ication use and related matters, among other things. In all, 35% of th e population used analgesics at least once during a two-week period, a nd analgesic use was more than 50% higher among women than men. Analge sic use was less common among those aged 45-64 years and 65-74 years t han those 18-44, after controlling for all other variables. The study showed that self-perceived poor health and pain explain much analgesic use. Analgesic use is further explained by lifestyle, sleeping proble ms, and health care utilization. Marital status, educational level, so cioeconomic status, social network and working conditions were found t o de of minor importance. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd