Prevalence of chronic illnesses in Belgium 2001-2018

From 2001 to 2018, the prevalence of chronic illness increased in Belgium. During this period, the share of the Belgian population who suffered from a chronic disease increased by 4.2 percent. In 2018, over 29 percent of Belgians, aged 15 years and older, suffered from a chronic affliction. From a regional perspective, the prevalence of chronic illness in Flanders stood beneath the country average. On the other hand, the prevalence of such conditions was especially high in Wallonia, where one-third of the population suffered from a chronic illness.

Prevalence of chronic conditions and gender disparities

Regardless of gender, back pain was the most common chronic condition in Belgium. In 2018, roughly a quarter of the Belgian population suffered from back pain. However, the prevalence of certain chronic conditions varied greatly in terms of gender. Indeed, the second and third most common chronic conditions for Belgian men were hypercholesterolemia and high blood pressure, whereas the most common chronic conditions for Belgian women were osteoarthritis and allergies. Nonetheless, a common ground was found for allergies as it was the fourth most common condition for men.

The evolution of back pain in Belgium

In recent years, back pain appears to be affecting an increasing number of people in Belgium. Since 2008, the prevalence of lower back pain among Belgian men increased by five percent and by three percent among Belgian women. In 2018, over 23 percent of men and 26 percent of women were subject to back pain in Belgium. Such a condition can find its origin in various other health conditions but can also be a result of a sedentary lifestyle.