12 things we learned from the Polish National Health Test 2021

The results of the Polish National Health Test 2021 show that the past year has not had a positive impact on the health of Poles, and in terms of prevention and a healthy lifestyle, we still have a lot to do if we want to live longer. What are the greatest health sins of Poles and what has improved during the pandemic? Here are 12 things we learned from NTZP2021!

The Health Index is down

What is the Health Index? It is a coefficient created for NTZP that shows, on a scale from 0 to 100%, the extent to which the respondent’s answers to the questions asked and the actions declared in them regarding disease prevention and a healthy lifestyle coincide with the recommendations of experts. And what happened to us in 2021?

NTZP2021 showed that the average Health Index is currently only 54,7%, which is as much as 7,2 less than in 2020, which means that the pandemic negatively affected the daily implementation of health experts’ recommendations.

We also learned that women take better care of their health – Index of Health in the range of 76-100 percent. obtained 5 percent. women and much less, because only 3 percent. men. However, there is not much reason to be proud of it, because it is disturbing that women who care about their health very well in 2021 are as much as 11 points. percent less than a year ago. For men, this decrease is also significant and amounts to 7 points. percent

Our diet has improved, albeit only slightly

A proper diet is the basis of a healthy lifestyle, so the light in the tunnel is the news that, compared to last year, we eat a little more vegetables (34% of Poles eat them every day – 4 percentage points more than in 2020) and fruit (every day reaches for 37% of Poles – 3 percentage points more than in 2020), we have reduced the consumption of meat and fast-food (2 percentage points less than in 2020) or we drink less sweetened beverages (3 percentage points less than in 2020). However, whether these changes result from a strong decision to take care of health, or rather from restrictions resulting from the pandemic (restrictions for the catering industry) or the sugar tax introduced at the beginning of 2021, remains to be seen in the future.

We believe in the effectiveness of supplements more than … in a healthy diet?

The consumption of supplements increased in 2021 compared to 2020 by as much as 7 points. percent, as well as the frequency of their consumption – every fourth Pole declares daily (25 percent compared to 17 percent in 2020). Among the supplements, Poles most often take multivitamin supplements. The increased consumption of supplements was certainly influenced by the desire to support immunity during a pandemic in order to protect themselves more effectively against infections, but it is surprising that the increase in the percentage of Poles taking supplements significantly exceeds the increase in the percentage of people consuming vegetables or fruit every day.

Fewer people drink and smoke, but those who use stimulants do not necessarily do it less often

Only 19 percent. Poles declare complete abstinence (8 percentage points more than in 2020). The percentage of women who drink alcohol is as high as 76%, while men – as much as 87%. What’s more, every tenth adult Pole consumes alcohol every day! 15 percent of men drink it every day. – the same as in the previous year, by 1 point. percent on the other hand, the percentage of women who drink alcohol every day has increased and is now 5%.

The percentage of active smokers of all tobacco products is 27%. – it’s about 5 points. percent less than in 2020. Currently 19 percent. Poles are classified as heavy smokers, and 8 percent. he uses tobacco products occasionally.

Disturbing assessment of one’s own mental state, especially among young people

Both the majority of women (59%) and men (70%) assess their mental health as very good and good, however, compared to 2020, the group of these people decreased by 2 points. percent It is alarming that as much as 26 percent. 18-24-year-olds – that is, every fourth person at this age – assess their mental health as bad or very bad – this is as much as 6 points. percent more than in the previous year.

Finally, we wanted a flu vaccine, but many failed because there were no vaccinations

In the past 2020/2021 season, 11 percent were vaccinated against influenza. respondents. However, due to the significantly increased interest in vaccination against influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic and the simultaneous limited availability of the vaccine despite the willingness to vaccinate, as many as 13% did not take advantage of influenza vaccination. respondents.

We are moving more than a year ago

Restrictions involving the closure of sports and recreational facilities have limited the possibility of practicing sports for Poles. However, compared to 2020, in 2021 we can observe favorable changes in our physical activity. The number of people walking for 1 to 2 hours increased by 2 points. percent, and walking between 30 and 60 minutes – by 3 points. percent Moreover, every fourth adult a week spends at least 2 hours (26%) on physical activity, while 15% spends 1-1,5 hours on it. Compared to 2020, this means an increase by 2 points. percent in each of these groups. Even though as much as 47 percent. Poles do not play any sport, compared to 2020 it is by 3 points. percent less.

We perform preventive and screening tests less frequently

Over the last year, only 39 percent. Poles tested cholesterol, 39 percent. performed a general urine test (3 percentage points less than in 2020), 49% checked the blood sugar level (1 percentage point less than in 2020), 53 percent performed a blood count (3 percentage points less than in 2020). The pandemic has severely limited Poles’ access to diagnostic tests – incl. as much as 12 percent among those who did not perform a blood count in the past year, they were concerned about being exposed to SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infection when going to the facility.

In the last two years, mammography was performed by 36%. women aged 45-54 and 63 percent. (5 percentage points less than in 2020) of women aged 55-64.

A rectal prostate examination in less than the last 12 months was done by 23%. men aged 55-64, 37 percent (3 percentage points less than in 2020) in the 65+ group.

The PSA test, which facilitates the early detection of prostate cancer, has done 12 percent in less than the last 36 months. men aged 55-64, 50 percent (2 percentage points less than in 2020) in the 65+ group.

Many of us are chronically ill

47 percent Poles have long-term health problems, and the number of people with long-term health problems increases with age. Every fourth Pole is diagnosed with arterial hypertension, every fifth allergy or asthma, every tenth depression and every fourteenth diabetes. 16% suffer from joint diseases, 10% from heart disease, 9% from neurological diseases, 4% from cancer and 2% from COPD. respondents. The percentage of people with heart disease, allergy or asthma, depression, cancer increased by 1 point. percent compared to 2020 for each of these groups. In 13 percent of respondents were diagnosed with COVID-19.

We visit GPs, specialists, dentists and ophthalmologists much less frequently

The pandemic limited access to medical facilities, and also reduced the willingness of Poles to contact a doctor due to fear of contracting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 36 percent Poles – by 17 points percent less than indicated in NTZP2020 – benefited from a visit to a GP within the last six months. In the period of 6-12 months ago, 20% visited a primary care physician for the last time. respondents. Up to six months ago, 40 percent visited a specialist doctor. respondents (4 percentage points less than the result in NTZP2020), and 16 percent. in the last 6-12 months. Only 34 percent. Poles visited the dentist in the last six months (3 percentage points less than in 2020), and 16 percent. (4 percentage points less than indicated by NTZP2020) people checked their eyesight during the last six months, 18 percent (3 percentage points less than indicated by NTZP2020) 6-12 months ago.

Almost half of us have had at least one telemedicine visit

During the pandemic, many Poles started using telemedicine services. 16 percent of respondents repeatedly visited a telemedicine visit in the last 12 months, and 33 percent. did so at least once. Among people who benefited from such visits, 85 percent. declares that this type of contact with the doctor met their expectations (although to a different extent). However, 15 percent. declared that the telemedicine visit did not meet their expectations. Interestingly, 22 percent. people among those who have not had any telemedicine visit in the last 12 months declare that the reason was the lack of knowledge how to use this type of advice.

There is a financial exclusion in access to medical care in Poland

Every fifth Pole resigned from visiting a doctor at least once in his life for financial reasons, and every fourth person did not visit a dentist for that reason. As much as 13 percent. Poles (2 percentage points less than in 2020) resigned from purchasing the prescription drug, and 9% from the purchase of medical equipment for financial reasons.

REPORT – Polish National Health Test 2021

The National Health Test of Poles is the largest health survey on the Polish Internet (according to available data). In 2021, 341 people took part in it.

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT of the Polish National Health Test 2021

The report of the Polish National Health Test 2021 covers such aspects as health, morbidity, preventive healthcare, lifestyle and the use of medical care.

This year’s report is particularly valuable as it not only shows the results of NTZP2021 carried out one year after the announcement of the COVID-19 pandemic, but compares them with data collected in the first edition of the project, which took place in early 2020, just before the pandemic was announced. Therefore, it allows an assessment of how the pandemic influenced the health of Poles, as well as their approach to prevention.

The project was held under the honorary patronage of the Vice-Rector of the Jagiellonian University for Collegium Medicum. The content of the project is supervised by the Scientific Council of the National Health Test of Poles.

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