Recurrent infections and musculoskeletal disorders - signs and generally increased care demands? A descriptive study of medical records
Engelsk titel: Recurrent infections and musculoskeletal disorders - signs and generally increased care demands? A descriptive study of medical records
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Författare:
Ekdahl C
;
Söderström M
;
Bowen Farsnäs A
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 25
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 99085209
Sammanfattning
In this study we describe and analyse the health status, health-care consumption and the characteristics of persons visiting the primary care centre because of frequent symptoms of respiratory tract infections (RTI) (n = 83) and disorders related to the musculoskeletal system (DMS) (n = 166) as described in medical records for a three-year period. When all the medical diagnoses, health-care consumption, sick leave and other information had been gathered, the findings were that more women (73%) than men fulfilled the inclusion criteria. On average, the group with the highest frequency of symptoms paid 8.3 visits/three years to the physician compared with 1.0 for the controls (p < 0.05). The average total sick-leave attributable to RTI was 29.4 days/3 years and 8.1 days/3 years for the controls. Forty percent of patients in the frequent symptoms group had regular contact with children at work compared with only 18% of the controls. Subjects in the former group were usually manual workers with an increased physical and psychological workload compared with the controls. This group of subjects probably represents a category of vulnerable patients and their total situation should be further investigated.
Published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.