More smokers kicking the habit

The number of Maltese smokers has been on the decline over the past six years, according to a health survey launched yesterday.

A fifth of the 4,000-odd Maltese who took part in the European Health Interview Survey smoked three per cent less cigarettes than they had done in 2002. This could be the result of the smoking ban introduced in public places in 2005, coupled with heightened awareness about the harmful effects of cigarettes.

Obesity remains a problem in Malta, despite a slim improvement, with 22.3 per cent of respondents reporting having an obese body mass index (the standard index for weight and height) of 30 or more, a slight drop from the 23.1 per cent report in 2002.

A staggering 36.3 per cent said they were overweight and only half the population had exercised more than three hours in the seven days prior to the survey.

The in-depth survey showed a five-per-cent rise in the rates of high blood pressure, with 22 per cent of those interviewed saying they suffered from the condition.

Hypertension tops the list of conditions the Maltese suffer from and the number of people taking medication for high blood pressure grew from 12 per cent in 2002 to 17.2 per cent last year.

Moreover, 20 per cent of respondents said they suffered from allergies and nine per cent suffered from asthma, the survey showed. The rate of asthma in Malta went up by two per cent between 2002 and 2008 while allergy rates increased by just over one per cent.

The survey showed an increase of four per cent in the number of people taking medication for high cholesterol.

There was a wafer-thin rise in the number of people in possession of a health insurance policy, up from 21.3 per cent in 2002 to 21.5 per cent last year.

Two per cent of those interviewed needed hospitalisation but did not accept, with a quarter of them citing waiting lists as the reason behind their refusal. Questioned about this, Health Parliamentary Secretary Joe Cassar said the authorities were aware of the long waiting lists and were working to reduce them.

Malta's top health problems

1. High blood pressure - 22 per cent

2. Low back pain - 20 per cent

3. Allergy - 20 per cent

4. Osteo arthritis - 15 per cent

5. Migraine - 14 per cent

6. Neck problems - 11 per cent

7. Asthma - nine per cent

8. Diabetes mellitus - eight per cent

9. Chronic anxiety - eight per cent

10. Chronic depression - six per cent