Health study: Healthiest Finns live in Oulunsalo and Espoo

Number of unwell on the up especially in Kainuu

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According to the latest Health Barometer study by KELA (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland), the nation's healthiest people live in the municipality of Oulunsalo, next to the northern technology city Oulu, and in Espoo, nestled up next to the capital.
      In Kauniainen, as well as in the Swedish-speaking communities of the Ostrobothnia region in Western Finland, the health of those advanced in age is very good.
      On the whole, it seems the healthiest Finns live in municipalities adjacent to major cities. Kauniainen is an "island" surrounded by Espoo.
     
The study also reveals that the most unwell citizens live in the rural communities of Rautavaara, Leivonmäki, and Puolanka.
      KELA's Health Barometer study compared the health of residents of different municipalities based on indicators such as mortality rate, the number of people on disability pension, and the number of people on long-term medication compensated by KELA.
      Based on the collected information, a health index was calculated for each municipality.
      When the country's average was calibrated at 100, Oulunsalo and Espoo's health indices were 56.9 and 57.5 respectively.
      At the lower end of the spectrum is the province of East Savo with a health index of 147.9.
     
A large number of families with several children has a positive effect on Oulunsalo's score, whereas in Espoo a notable number of residents are highly educated young professionals with a relatively healthy life style.
      Sickliness has increased in the eastern province of Kainuu. Cases of asthma, coronary disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure are on the up.
      The occurrence of long-term illnesses has also risen in Southern Ostrobothnia and in the Kymenlaakso region in the southeast.
      Public health service analysts will use the collected data in examining causes for regional variation in citizens' health.


Links:
  KELA, Social Insurance Institution of Finland

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