Trends in health status and the use of services among the 80-84-year-old Finnish war veterans during 1992 and 2004

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of public health Vol. 38; no. 4; pp. 434 - 441
• Main Authors: LESKINEN, M. RIITTA, LAATIKAINEN, TIINA K. M., TUOMILEHTO, JAAKKO O. I., NISSINEN, M. AULIKKI, PELTONEN, MARKKU, KOISTINEN, PENTTI O. I., ANTIKAINEN, RIITTA L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE 01-06-2010; SAGE Publications; Sage Publications
• Subjects: Access to health care; Activities of Daily Living; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Community Health Services - utilization; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disabled Persons - psychology; Disabled Persons - rehabilitation; Diseases; Female; Finland; Finland - epidemiology; Follow-Up Studies; Geriatric Assessment; Health services; Health Services - utilization; Health Status; Humans; Male; Measurement; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Morbidity; Original articles; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Questionnaires; Self Concept; Social services; Surveys and Questionnaires; Veterans; Veterans - psychology; Walking; United States; North America; Europe; America; Finland; war veterans; rehabilitation; cross-sectional study; functional capacity; self-rated health; Self evaluation; Health; Use; Trend; War; Functional capacity; Health status; 2004; 1992; Cross sectional study; Rehabilitation(human); Veteran
• ISSN: 1403-4948; 1651-1905
• DOI: 10.1177/1403494810367730

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the differences in health state, functional capacity and the use of social and health services among the 80-84-year-old Finnish Second World War veterans in 1992 and 2004 and to describe the possible effects of the improvements made based on the results after 1992. Methods: The Veteran Projects were conducted among the veterans using a postal questionnaire. In 1992, the questionnaire was sent to all veterans (n = 242,720) living in Finland, and in 2004 to 5750 veterans who had participated in the study in 1992. The comparable age groups of veterans aged 80-84 years were used. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analysis. Analyses were conducted separately for men with and without disability and for all women. Results: The proportion of men with good self-reported health, painlessness, normal memory and vision and who were able to walk 500 m without difficulties, significantly increased, as did the proportion of women with normal memory and vision. The prevalence of many diseases increased, but diseases appeared to be less disabling in 2004 than 1992. The need for hospital care decreased and the use of rehabilitation services increased, but the increased use of rehabilitation services was not indicative of the ability to walk 500 m. Conclusions: Self-rated health and functional capacity improved and the need for hospital care decreased among veterans, although the prevalence of many diseases increased during the follow-up. Rehabilitation was not associated with the ability to walk 500 m without difficulties.