Morbidity profiles in Europe and Israel: international comparisons from 20 countries using biopsychosocial indicators of health via latent class analysis

Johannes Beller

doi:10.1007/s10389-021-01673-0

Abstract

AimI examined health/morbidity profiles across 20 countries, determined their associated demographic characteristics and risk factors and compared the distribution of these health/morbidity profiles across countries.Subject and methodsI used population-based data drawn from the European Social Survey (N = 20092, 52% female, ages 40+) covering 20 mostly European countries (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland) from 2014. Diverse indicators of health/morbidity were used, including self-rated health, self-rated disability, self-reported health problems and mental health symptoms using the CES-D. Latent class analysis was conducted to determine health/morbidity profiles across countries.ResultsI found that four distinct health profiles best describe overall health/morbidity status in the international sample, each associated with specific demographic and behavioural risk factors: ‘healthy’ profile (62% of participants), ‘unhappy but healthy’ profile (14%), ‘high morbidity, mostly physical’ profile (16%) and ‘high morbidity, mostly psychological’ profile (8%). With few exceptions, participants from Northern Europe and Western Europe were more likely to belong to the ‘healthy’ and the ‘unhappy but healthy’ profiles, whereas participants from Eastern Europe were more likely to belong to the ‘high morbidity, mostly physical’ profile. Distribution of the ‘high morbidity, mostly psychological’ profile appeared to be more uniform across regions.ConclusionsDistinct morbidity/health profiles could be identified across countries, and countries varied regarding the relative distribution of these profiles. Specific prevention and treatment consequences associated with each profile are discussed. Future studies should further investigate the patterns of overall health and morbidity in Europe’s populations.

Highlights

Only 10% reported that they had bad health and 33% reported that they were limited in their daily activities
Participants from Northern Europe and Western Europe were more likely to belong to the ‘healthy’ and the ‘unhappy but healthy’ profiles, especially Norway, Ireland and Denmark, whereas participants from Eastern Europe were more likely to belong to the ‘high morbidity, mostly physical’ profile, i.e. Poland, Hungary and Czechia
As compared to the other countries, participants from countries in Northern and Western Europe tended to more likely belong to the ‘healthy’ profile and were less likely to belong to the ‘high morbidity mostly physical’ profile

Summary

Introduction

I used data from the 20 countries (Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland) that participated in the 7th round of the ESS, sampled in 2014, which included a rotating module relating to health. Response rates varied between 31% and 74% per country (Austria 57%, Belgium 68%, Czechia 52%, Denmark 60%, Finland 63%, France 51%, Germany 31%, Great Britain 44%, Hungary 53%, Ireland 61%, Israel 74%, Lithuania 69%; Netherlands 59%, Norway 54%, Poland 66%, Portugal 43%, Slovenia 52%, Spain 68%, Sweden 50%, Switzerland 53%).

Results

Conclusion