Objective: The main aim was to examine the impact of reported individual symptoms on health care utilisation (HCU) in a primary health care practice population and to evaluate the impact of these symptoms on utilisation over time.
Method: The study was performed in 1055 out of 1442 consecutive adult patients visiting a Swedish health care centre. Logistic regression analyses were applied to assess the relationships between symptoms and HCU outcomes.
Results: Each of the 30 symptoms was related to consultations with GPs and a provider of alternative medicine, use of medications and herbals, and sickness absence. Depression and tension groups were the strongest predictors of utilisation. Multisymptomatics had higher OR for most of the outcome variables than those with no symptoms.
Conclusion: The results of this study show a linear correlation between the numbers of symptoms and increasing GP consultations, medicine use and sickness absences days, and this persisted during the years 2001 and 2002.