The Netherlands: Health System Review 2010

Health systems in transition The Netherlands 9
increase of 2% in 2001, the percentage started to decrease again and dropped
to 29.1% in 2007. The EU27 average of daily smokers also showed a decline
from 30.6% in 1995 to 27.0% in 2006. Between 1995 and 2006 the EU average
was below the percentage of the Netherlands (WHO Regional Office for Europe
2009). Another important risk factor of the health of the Dutch population is
obesity. From self-reported data on obesity, an increase of more than 10% can
be observed between 1990 and 2007. Almost half of the population seems
overweight. Furthermore, self-reported diabetes prevalence rose from 2.1%
(2000) to 3.9% (2007) (Statistics Netherlands 2009f).
Table 1.6
Factors affecting health status, 1990–2007 (selected years)
% of regular daily
smokers in the
population, age 15+
% overweight
(self-reported)
Pure alcohol
consumption, litres
per capita
% diabetes (total)
(self-reported)
Cancer incidence
per 100 000
Hospital discharges,
ischaemic heart
disease per 100 000
1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
36.7 35.7 32.4 34.5 33.5 32.0 30.8 30.8 30.8 29.1
34.9 n/a 44.1 44.8 44.8 46.1 46.5 44.9 46.5 45.5
8.1 8.0 8.2 8.1 8.0 7.9 7.9 7.9 7.9 n/a
n/a n/a 2.1 2.8 2.5 2.8 3.1 3.4 3.6 3.9
408.4 454.3 479.5 484.0 500.6 515.6 543.3 548.4 n/a n/a
545.6 614.3 525.7 511.8 522.8 523.9 555.3 541.4 531.1 n/a
Sources: WHO Regional Office for Europe 2009; Trimbos-instituut 2008; Statistics Netherlands 2009f.
Note: n/a = not available.
Between 1990 and 2002 the DMFT (decayed, missing or filled teeth) Index
at age 12 has decreased from 1.7 to 0.8 (see Table 1.7). The Dutch figures were
constantly below the EU average in this period (WHO Regional Office for
Europe 2009). Unfortunately, no newer data is available.
Table 1.7
DMFT (decayed, missing or filled teeth) at age 12 years, 1990–2002
Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1996 1998 2000 2002
DMFT 1.7 1.7 0.9 0.9 0.9 0.6 1.1 0.8
Source: WHO Regional Office for Europe 2009.