Encounters for common illnesses in general practice increased in obese patients

Abstract

Obese patients present more common illnesses to their GP, such as common cold (without fever), myalgia of the upper girdle, dermatophytosis and bruise (contusion, haematoma). This is in addition to their higher co-morbidity of chronic medical conditions.

Increased attendance rate: BMI matters, lifestyles don't. Results from the Dutch SMILE study

“…About half of the Dutch population is overweight, and 10% is obese; and this number is still increasing; by 2010, one-fifth of Europe's population will be obese. 26 Combined with our findings that overweight and obese patients have higher GP attendance rates this will lead to a higher workload for GPs.…”

“…[24][25][26] These studies also found a clear relationship between obesity and higher attendance rates, controlled for age, sex and obesity-related co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus and heart diseases. L84, L85, L88, L89, L90, L91, L95, L98, R91, R95, R96, K74, K75, K76, K77, K82, K87, K90, K91, K92, K93, K94, T85, T86, T90, T92, T93, T99, P28, P70, P71, P72, P73, P74, P75, P76, P77, P79, P80, P85, P98, S87, S91, S97, F83, F84, F94, H83, H86, A79, B72, B73, F74, D74, D75, D76, D77, N74, R84, R85, S77, T71, U75, U76, U77, W72, X75, X76, X77, Y77, Y78, U04, U85, U88, Y85, N89, N90, N92, N70, N85, N86, N87, N88 According to literature, obese and overweight patients present more often common diseases to the GP compared with normal weighted patients.…”

“…L84, L85, L88, L89, L90, L91, L95, L98, R91, R95, R96, K74, K75, K76, K77, K82, K87, K90, K91, K92, K93, K94, T85, T86, T90, T92, T93, T99, P28, P70, P71, P72, P73, P74, P75, P76, P77, P79, P80, P85, P98, S87, S91, S97, F83, F84, F94, H83, H86, A79, B72, B73, F74, D74, D75, D76, D77, N74, R84, R85, S77, T71, U75, U76, U77, W72, X75, X76, X77, Y77, Y78, U04, U85, U88, Y85, N89, N90, N92, N70, N85, N86, N87, N88 According to literature, obese and overweight patients present more often common diseases to the GP compared with normal weighted patients. 26 Overweight and obese patients attend more often with complaints of common cold (without fever), myalgia of the upper girdle, musculoskeletal disorders, abdominal problems, skin problems and bruise (contusion and haematoma). 26,27 Possibly, overweight and obese patients attend their GP with physical symptoms (myalgia and musculoskeletal disorders) as results of their overweight or obesity, but these complaints are not (yet) chronic, and as a result, not yet labelled as a chronic disease.…”

“…26 Overweight and obese patients attend more often with complaints of common cold (without fever), myalgia of the upper girdle, musculoskeletal disorders, abdominal problems, skin problems and bruise (contusion and haematoma). 26,27 Possibly, overweight and obese patients attend their GP with physical symptoms (myalgia and musculoskeletal disorders) as results of their overweight or obesity, but these complaints are not (yet) chronic, and as a result, not yet labelled as a chronic disease.…”

“…Although length and weight were self-reported, and 711 missing values, they were in line with the BMI distribution in the Dutch population. 26 Recommendations Lifestyle interventions are needed in overweight and obese patients to prevent the onset of overweight and obesity-related diseases. Nowadays, nurse practitioners are increasingly involved in prevention and monitoring of chronic diseases in primary care.…”