People who eat vegetables more frequently use health services more often
The study examined the use of primary healthcare services in relation to lifestyle factors such as breakfast consumption, the frequency of vegetable, fruit, and berry intake, fibre intake from bread, dietary fat quality, intensity of leisure-time physical activity, sleep duration, smoking, and alcohol consumption. The data was drawn from over 5,600 individuals belonging to the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966, whose lifestyles and healthcare usage were surveyed in 2012 when they were aged 46. Respondents reported the number of visits to public health centres, occupational healthcare providers, and private healthcare services in the year prior to the survey. Background factors such as marital status, education, and employment status were also assessed.
According to the study, women used health services more frequently than men. Those who used health services extensively were more likely to have cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, depression, or obesity. On the other hand, lifelong non-smokers were found to use health services less frequently.
Although the study showed that women consumed vegetables significantly more often than men, the frequency of vegetable consumption was linked to healthcare usage regardless of gender: among both men and women, those who used health services extensively consumed vegetables more frequently on average than those who used services less.
Saara Siltasalmi, a dietitian and lead researcher, suggests that regular vegetable consumption might result from using health-promoting services. “This finding could indicate that motivation for lifestyle changes may only arise when disease risk factors become tangible during healthcare visits,” Siltasalmi speculates.
The study did not differentiate between preventive and curative healthcare services. However, international studies have shown that individuals with healthy lifestyles are more likely to use preventive health services.
Personal circumstances influence healthcare usage
The study also found that participants’ personal circumstances affected their use of health services. Single, divorced, and widowed individuals were more likely to use health services extensively compared to those in relationships. Education level did not appear to influence healthcare usage, but those on disability pensions used services significantly more than others.
“It is important to note that factors such as employment status affect access to healthcare services like public health centres, occupational healthcare, and private providers. Preventive health services may be more emphasised in occupational healthcare compared to public services,” notes postdoctoral researcher and dietitian Marjukka Nurkkala, who led the study.
The findings can assist in the planning of healthcare services. “Targeted, timely measures—such as addressing lifestyle and dietary factors—can improve public health and generate cost savings by preventing or delaying diseases and acute health incidents that require expensive treatments,” Siltasalmi emphasises.
The study was conducted as part of the SEPAS project, which explored the societal costs of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour. The project was funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and involved collaboration between the University of Oulu, ODL Department of Sports and Exercise Medicine, the Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, and the University of Eastern Finland. The results were published in Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti issue 4/2024.
Study publication:
Siltasalmi S, Kähkönen K, Leinonen A-M, Korpelainen R, Nurkkala M: The association between lifestyle factors and the use of health services among Finnish middle-aged people. Sosiaalilääketieteellinen Aikakauslehti, 61(4).