Country
Work Package 1
14) The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS)
The European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) is a large-scale, harmonised population health survey coordinated by Eurostat across European countries. It provides comparable data on health status, healthcare use, health determinants, and socioeconomic conditions, based on a standardised methodology implemented across participating countries.
EHIS covers all European Union Member States, as well as several non-EU countries, including Iceland, Norway, Albania, Serbia, and Turkey.
Type of Study
EHIS is a cross-sectional, periodically repeated population survey. Data have been collected in multiple waves: Wave 1 (2006–2009), Wave 2 (2013–2015), and Wave 3 (2018–2020). Since 2019, the survey is conducted every six years.
Data Collection
Data are collected through household-based interviews of individuals aged 15 years and older living in private households. Standardised questionnaires are used across countries to ensure comparability, although some variation in survey mode (e.g. face-to-face, telephone, or self-administered) may occur depending on national implementation. Sampling is typically based on national population registers, censuses, or dwelling lists.
Sample Size
EHIS includes large national samples in each participating country. For example, Wave 2 included over 250,000 respondents across participating countries (e.g. 254,510 from Germany and 24 other countries). Combined analyses of Waves 2 and 3 include approximately 542,580 participants across around 30 European countries.
Sample Size Characteristics
The target population consists of individuals aged 15 years and older living in private households. Samples are designed to be nationally representative and are stratified according to national sampling frames. Minimum effective sample sizes are defined to ensure statistical precision (e.g. estimating an 8% prevalence with ±1% margin of error), and most countries meet or exceed these requirements.
Measurement of Mental Health
EHIS includes standardised measures of depressive symptoms. In Wave 3, depressive symptoms are assessed using the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), which captures symptoms experienced over the previous two weeks. Severity can be categorised (e.g. mild, moderate, or severe), and a commonly used threshold of PHQ-8 ≥10 indicates clinically relevant depressive symptoms. Earlier waves included more limited mental health indicators.
Cohort Profile Available
No. EHIS is a repeated cross-sectional survey and does not include longitudinal follow-up of individuals. There is no cohort profile publication.
Key Publications
- Fischer F et al. Prevalence estimates of major depressive disorder in 27 European countries from the European Health Interview Survey: accounting for imperfect diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-8. BMJ Ment Health, Volume 26, Issue 1, DOI:10.1136/bmjment-2023-300675.
- Arias-de la Torre, J et al. Prevalence and variability of depressive symptoms in Europe: update using representative data from the second and third waves of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS-2 and EHIS-3). The Lancet Public Health, Volume 8, Issue 11, 889-898, 2023, DOI:10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00220-7.
Open Access
EHIS anonymised microdata are available to researchers through Eurostat’s Research Microdata Access framework. Access requires submission of an application and is subject to approval and data protection regulations. Publicly available aggregated data can also be accessed through the Eurostat database.
Contact For Collaboration and Possible Access
Data access is managed centrally by Eurostat. Researchers must apply through the Eurostat microdata access procedure. National statistical offices (e.g. ISTAT in Italy, DREES in France, or Statistics Denmark) may also provide access to national datasets or facilitate collaboration for country-specific analyses. General enquiries can be directed to Eurostat user support or relevant national statistical institutes.