Healthcare utilization, medication use, and self-rated health in people with multiple physical symptoms: findings from two cross-sectional surveys a decade apart

Background The prevalence of multiple physical symptoms in the population seems to be rising, yet the implications for individuals and society remain insufficiently explored. We aimed to characterize individuals from the general population with multiple physical symptoms in terms of self-reported health, healthcare utilization, and prescription medication use, and to assess changes in these measures over a decade. Methods This repeated cross-sectional study used data from two nationwide surveys conducted in 2012 and 2022, each including a random sample of 100,000 Danish residents. Analyses were restricted to respondents aged 20–64 years. Multiple physical symptoms were assessed using the 25-item Bodily Distress Syndrome (BDS) checklist and classified into established BDS subgroups. Self-rated health and functional capacity were questionnaire-based. Individual-level linkage to national registers provided data on socioeconomic characteristics, healthcare utilization, and prescription medication use during the year preceding each survey participation. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic factors were performed. Results The two samples comprise 8738 (2012) and 6579 (2022) respondents with multiple physical symptoms. Poor self-rated health and reduced functional capacity were more prevalent in 2022 compared to 2012. While frequent primary care contacts were more common in 2012 hospital contacts were more common in 2022. Individuals with multiple physical symptoms consistently exhibited high healthcare utilization and medication use, particularly those categorized as multi-organ BDS. Notably, use of analgesics and gabapentinoids was substantially more frequent in 2022 than 2012. Conclusion Multiple physical symptoms were markedly more prevalent in 2022 compared to 2012 and were accompanied by lower self-rated health and functional capacity. Affected individuals demonstrated a higher use of medication and specialized healthcare, indicating a growing burden on both individuals and the healthcare system.