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Men give a better assessment to their health than women. During the survey, more than half (56%) of men and 46% of women indicated that their health was very good or good. Every tenth man and every sixth (16%) woman stated that their health was bad or very bad.

Compared to the results of the 2005 Health Interview Survey, self-perceived health slightly improved.

Self-perceived health, %

More than half (53%) of the population aged 15 and older indicated that they had a long-standing (i.e. lasting for at least six months) disease or health problem. The percentage of women stating that they had long-standing health problems exceeded that of men – 58 and 47% respectively. Nine out of ten persons aged 65 and older had long-standing health problems; moreover, as much as 17% of persons aged 15–24 stated that they had long-standing health problems.

59% of the population had some long-standing eyesight, hearing or mobility disorders (66% of women and 50% of men). Most commonly, people stated that they had eyesight disorders: 1.1 million (46%) of persons aged 15 and older were wearing glasses or contact lenses. Hearing aids were used by 2% of persons aged 15 and older; among people aged 75 and older, this percentage stood at 6%. 68% (74% of women and 54% of men) aged 75 and older had difficulty or could not walk 500 metres without any aid, 76% (82% of women and 63% of men) – had difficulty or could not walk up or down 12 steps without any aid.

Health problems encumber everyday activities, interfere with personal care and household activities. The survey results showed that some limitations in personal care activities were experienced by 186 thousand, or 34% of, persons aged 65 and older. Every second (51%) person aged 65 and older having limitations in at least one everyday personal care activity had help with it. Meanwhile, 27% of persons having difficulties in personal care did not receive sufficient help or were not provided any help when they needed it.

The Health Interview Survey revealed certain peculiarities of the lifestyle of the population. In recent nine years, the body mass index (BMI) of men aged 18 and older increased from 25.8 in 2005 to 26.3 in 2014, of women – decreased, respectively, from 26.1 to 26. In 2014, 38% of the population aged 18 and older were overweight, 17% – obese. The percentage of obese women was larger than that of men (20 and 14% respectively); however, more men than women were overweight (44 and 34% respectively). Only 2% of the population, usually young people, were underweight.

48% of the population aged 15 and older (53% of women and 42% of men) consumed fruit (including berries), 54% of the population (58% of women and 50% of men) – vegetables (excluding potatoes) at least once a day.

9% of the population stated that they were carrying out sports or active recreational activity, on average, at least 30 minutes on a typical day. The largest proportion of such persons was among the population aged 15–44. Almost in all age groups men were more active than women.

Compared to 2005, the percentage of daily smokers decreased from 25 to 20%. 34% (in 2005, 42%) of men and 9% (in 2005, 10%) of women aged 15 and older indicated that they smoke. A daily smoker aged 15 and older smoked, on average, 14 cigarettes a day: men – 15.4, women – 9.9.

Within a year of the survey, 75% of the population aged 15 and older consumed alcohol (83% of men and 69% of women). 14% of the population (24% of men and 5% of women) consumed alcohol at least once a week.

Alcohol consumption is most frequent on weekends. On a day when s/he was consuming alcohol, one resident aged 15 and older  consumed an amount of alcohol corresponding to eight standard alcoholic drinks, or one bottle (750 ml) of wine.

Use of health care services. The survey results showed that, over the year, outpatient care services were used by 81% of women and 67% of men. Compared to 2005, the%age of the population who within a year of the survey consulted a general practitioner (family doctor) increased from 61 to 74%. Within a year of the survey, 41% of women and 34% of men consulted a medical or surgical specialist.

Men visited odontologists or orthodontists less often than women: 40% of men and 52% of women indicated that they visited such specialists within a year of the survey.

13% of the population aged 15 and older indicated that, within a year of survey, they were hospitalised and spent at least one night in a hospital.

The average length of stay in a hospital was 12.3 days: 13 days for men and 12 days for women. Compared to 2005, it decreased by 3.3 days.

Every ninth (11%) resident aged 15 and older (11% of the urban and 9% of the rural population of this age) indicated that, within a year of the survey, there was an occasion when they experienced a delay in getting health care because the waiting time was too long. 5% of the rural and 1% of the urban population experienced such a delay because of distance or transport problems. The need for health care of 2% of the population aged 15 and older was not met because they could not afford it. 5% of the population did not use odontological services for the same reason. 2% of the population could not afford to buy medicine prescribed by a doctor.

In 2014, 993 thousand, or 40% of, persons aged 15 and older indicated that, within two weeks of the survey, they were using medicine prescribed by a doctor. 1.4 million, or 57% of, persons were using medicines, herbal remedies or vitamins not prescribed by a doctor (more frequently women than men – 65 and 47% respectively). Prescription medicines were more frequently used by older people, while the use of non-prescription medicines, herbal remedies and vitamins was common in all population groups.

The Health Interview Survey was conducted in September–November 2014. In the course of the survey, 5.2 thousand persons aged 15 and older, randomly sampled from the Population Register, were interviewed. During the survey, people were asked to give an assessment to their health status, use of health care services, various health determinants, etc. In 2013–2015, such health interview surveys were conducted in all EU countries.

For more information, see the publication Results of the Health Interview Survey of the Population of Lithuania 2014 and the Database of Indicators.