site.btaEurostat: 7 out of 10 Bulgarians Believe to Be in Good Health

Sofia, April 6 (BTA) - Around 72 per cent, or roughly seven out of ten Bulgarians aged 16 or over, rated their health status as good or very good, show data from a Eurostat analysis on Europeans' health status in 2017, released on the occasion of the upcoming World Health Day (marked on April 7). Bulgarians' self-assessed health status ranks close to the average in the EU, which is also 70 per cent.

According to Eurostat's data, 76 per cent of Bulgarian males and 69 per cent of females rated their health status as good or very good.

The highest share of Bulgarians who rate their health status as good is in the 14 to 24 age group - close to 97 per cent. Respectively, those aged 65 or older felt the least healthy with close to 80 per cent of them assessing their health as bad or very bad.

According the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute's data on Bulgarians self-assessed health status, the highest share of Bulgarians complain of high blood pressure, accompanied by cardiovascular disease - around 30 per cent, or almost on in three Bulgarians.

Close to 17 per cent of Bulgarians complain of chronic back problems and arthrosis. Angina pectoris and myocardial ischemia is reported by close to 10 per cent of Bulgarians.

According to Eurostat, the highest share of the population aged 16 or over among the EU Member States, who perceived their health as good or very good was recorded in Ireland (83 per cent), ahead of Cyprus (78 per cent), Italy and Sweden (both 77 per cent), the Netherlands (76 per cent) and Malta (75 per cent).

At the bottom end of the scale, the lowest share was reported in Lithuania and Latvia (both 44 per cent), Portugal (49 per cent), Estonia (53 per cent), Poland and Hungary (both 59 per cent). RY/MY