Health in Switzerland
Health in Switzerland relates to a variety of issues. Namely, water and sanitation, diet and fitness, various addictions, mental fitness, communicable diseases, hygiene and the environment.
In the 2023 OECD "Health at a Glance" report, Switzerland's health statistics indicate several advantages relative to the OECD averages. The country records a life expectancy of 83.9 years, which is 3.6 years higher than the OECD average. Its preventable mortality rate is 94 per 100,000 people, which is below the OECD average of 158 per 100,000. The treatable mortality rate in Switzerland, at 39 per 100,000, is also below the OECD average of 79 per 100,000. Additionally, 3.9% of the Swiss population reports their health as bad or very bad, less than the OECD average of 7.9%. The prevalence of diabetes in Switzerland is lower than the OECD average. Switzerland performs better than the OECD benchmarks on 95% of the health indicators analyzed.[1]
A new measure of expected human capital calculated for 195 countries from 1990 to 2016 and defined for each birth cohort as the expected years lived from age 20 to 64 years and adjusted for educational attainment, learning or education quality, and functional health status was published by The Lancet in September 2018. Switzerland had the twelfth highest level of expected human capital with 25 health, education, and learning-adjusted expected years lived between age 20 and 64 years.[2] According to a study conducted by Swiss insurance company CSS in 2023, about one third of the Swiss "feel unhealthy or ill".[3]
Risk factors
[edit]In 2023, Switzerland exhibits a smoking prevalence of 19.1%, higher than the OECD average of 16.0%.[dubious – discuss] The country's alcohol consumption per capita is closely aligned with the OECD average, at 8.5 litres compared to the OECD's 8.6 litres. Obesity prevalence in Switzerland is notably lower, at 11.3%, compared to the OECD average of 18.4%. Moreover, Switzerland reports fewer deaths from air pollution, with 16 deaths per 100,000 population, versus the OECD average of 28.9. Overall, Switzerland performs better than the OECD average in 90% of the health risk factors reviewed.[1]
Health system resources
[edit]In 2023, Switzerland's health system investment notably exceeds OECD averages, with a per capita expenditure of $8049, significantly higher than the OECD's average of $4986 (USD PPP). This expenditure accounts for 11.3% of Switzerland's GDP, compared to the OECD average of 9.2%. The country also has a higher density of healthcare professionals, with 4.4 practicing doctors and 18.4 practicing nurses per 1,000 population, above the OECD averages of 3.7 and 9.2, respectively. Switzerland's hospital bed capacity stands at 4.4 per 1,000 population, on par with the OECD average of 4.3. Switzerland performs better than the OECD standard in 55% of assessed health indicators.[1]
Mental illness
[edit]It is estimated that one out of six persons in Switzerland suffers from mental illness.[4] Other studies estimate that between 20 and 30 per cent of the population suffers from clinical psychological disorders.[5] The annual cost for brain disorders is CHF15 billion ($13.7 billion) - more than CHF2,000 per person according to Swiss medical sources (2008).[6]
Switzerland has the highest rate of psychiatrists per population in the OECD (Iceland has half as many psychiatrists as in Switzerland and is ranked second).[7]
According to study, people working in healthcare or hospitality industries are two economic sectors most affected by mental illness.[8]
Patients in psychiatric clinics can be subjected to medication against their will, isolation and restraint. One in four patients in psychiatric services is now hospitalized against their will. "This figure is surprisingly high compared to other European countries" according to Swiss sources.[9]
The percentage of SMEs that are significantly affected by failures due to mental illnesses in 2022 stands at 26%.[10]
Stress
[edit]Studies reveal that over 27% of Swiss workers are stressed and nearly 30% of Swiss people say that they are "emotionally exhausted". Health Promotion Switzerland says that job-related stress results in a loss of productivity worth about $6.6 billion per year or 1% of Switzerland's GDP.[11]
Apprentices have been reported to have a high level of stress with 92.4% experiencing stress at work, 53.2% of them often or always.[12]
Anxiety
[edit]The most common psychiatric illnesses are anxiety disorders with 710,000 cases (2008) [13]
Migraine
[edit]Migraine cases as part of "neurological illnesses" stand at 630,000 cases (2008).[14]
Depression
[edit]Around 345,000 people saw a doctor about depression in 2008.[15]
Bipolar
[edit]As of 2022, about 80,000 people were diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[16]
Schizophrenia
[edit]As of 2021, nearly 85,000 people in Switzerland were suffering from schizophrenia.[17]
Sleeping disorders
[edit]52% of the Swiss say they have problem sleeping (2022).[18]
Alzheimer
[edit]![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2022) |
About 150,000 people have Alzheimer in Switzerland (2022). This number is predicted to increase to 315,000 by 2050.[19]
Cancer
[edit]Some 23,100 men and 19,650 women were diagnosed with cancer every year between 2013 and 2017, according to a Swiss report; with an increase of 3,350 new cases compared with the previous five-year period (because of an aging population).[20] According to studies, alcohol consumption, smoking and pollution are main factors contributing to cancer.[21]
Addictions
[edit]Internet
[edit]On average in 2019, 16–25 years olds spend 4 hours on the internet every day. Between 73,000 and 290,000 people in Switzerland had "problematic" time usage of the internet.[22]
Gambling
[edit]Nearly 3% of people in Switzerland gamble excessively spending 122 Swiss Francs per month on average.[23] Over 70 thousand persons were banned from Swiss casinos for excessive gambling in 2020.[24]
Illegal drugs
[edit]As of 2017, out of a population of 8 million, Swiss people smoke more than half a million joints per day.[25] The Swiss health office estimates there are 220,000 regular consumers of cannabis in Switzerland despite a legal ban.[26]
Drug use is 14% of men and 6.5% of women between 20 and 24 saying they had consumed cannabis in the past 30 days,[27] and 5 Swiss cities were listed among the top 10 European cities for cocaine use as measured in wastewater.[28][29] Since the early 90's, when drug use was dramatically increasing in urban areas, Switzerland has pioneered effective drug policies of harm reduction, prevention and treatment, including HAT as well as decriminalisation of recreational cannabis use. With the revision of Swiss federal narcotics regulations in 2008, the medical use of cannabis was also legalised.[30]
The number of opioid-related calls made to Tox Info Suisse, the national poisoning hotline, increased by 177% between 2000 and 2019. During the same period, sales of opioids almost doubled, from 14,300 units sold per 100,000 inhabitants to 27,400, with Fentanyl being the third most sold opioid in Switzerland.[31]
Analysis of Swiss police records suggests that participants in medical drug rehabilitation programs tend to reduce cocaine, cannabis and heroin use,[32] and the need to commit other crimes to buy their drugs, such as shoplifting, burglary or car theft.[33][34]
Legal pills
[edit]An estimated 350,000 people in Switzerland are addicted to sleeping pills.[35] As of a 2022 study, a quarter of the Swiss use painkillers. Overall, the study found 55% Swiss respondents had taken medication in the last week.[36]
Alcoholism
[edit]According to official statistics, the percentage of adults drinking alcohol every day has decreased by 50% over the past 25 years, from 20% to 11%. Overall, 82% of the population regularly drinks alcoholic beverages.[37] In 2016, Swiss hospitals treated 11,500 people for alcohol poisoning; about half of the patients were diagnosed as alcoholics. Among those who seek help to quit drinking, the average age is 46; 70% are male.[38]
Smoking
[edit]Between 2008 and 2018, the percentage of smokers has remained stable at around 27%.[39]
Communicable diseases
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
HIV/AIDS
[edit]By the end of 2020, Switzerland had 236 registered HIV new infections (about a third fewer than in 2019, partly because of the COVID-19 pandemic). In 2018, 17,000 people were infected with HIV/AIDS according to official statistics.[40]
Gonorrhea
[edit]Switzerland had 4,000 cases of gonorrhea in 2021.[41]
Chlamydia
[edit]In 2021, Switzerland had 12,000 cases of chlamydia which is a sexually transmissible disease. [42]
COVID-19
[edit]Environmental issues related to health
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
Chemicals
[edit]- Lead poisoning
- PFAS pollutants have been found in 134 sites in Switzerland (2023).[43]
Carcinogens
[edit]Air pollution
[edit]Nanoparticles
[edit]Soil contamination
[edit]In Switzerland, there are officially 38,000 polluted sites, 4,000 of which represent a real threat to groundwater.[46]
Radiation
[edit]According to official study, 5G is not harmful to health. Critics say the study was not conducted in "realistic" conditions however.[47]
In 2023, low-level radioactive were found in a landfill in Solothurn.[48]
Water and sanitation
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
Nutrition and obesity
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
As of 2017, the share of people classified as overweight (body mass index (BMI) 25 to 30) has remained stable at 42% of the population. However, over the last 25 years, the percentage of obese people (BMI>30) has more than doubled, from 5% in 1992 to 11% in 2017.[49]
Junk foods
[edit]Bio food
[edit]Sugar based
[edit]Fatties
[edit]Food additives
[edit]Food packaging
[edit]Sports and fitness
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
Since 2002 until 2018, the number of people who are physically active has increased from 62% to 76%.[50]
Major causes of death
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
Between 2013 and 2017, around 9,400 Swiss men and 7,650 women died from cancer every year. This means that around 30% of all male deaths and 23% of all female deaths were due to cancer.[51] Over the past four decades, the number of suicides per 100,000 residents has dropped from 24.9 to 9.5 (2022).[52]
Family planning
[edit] | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2020) |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c "OECD Health at a Glance 2023 Country Note - Switzerland" (PDF). Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
- ^ Lim, Stephen; et, al. "Measuring human capital: a systematic analysis of 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016". Lancet. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
- ^ "After the Covid pandemic, more than one-third of Swiss report poor health". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2023-09-18. Retrieved 2023-09-25.
- ^ "La région lémanique affiche le plus haut taux de dépression". Le Temps. 12 April 2012.
- ^ "Up to one in three has psychological problems". 15 April 2012.
- ^ "Swiss count the cost of mental illness". 14 January 2008.
- ^ "The urgent need to talk about mental illness". 3 November 2014.
- ^ Buchs, Jean-Philippe (2024-04-29). "Une étude sur les troubles psychiques liés au travail est explosive". Bilan (in French). Retrieved 2024-06-30.
- ^ "Isolement, contention ou médication forcée: les mesures coercitives traumatisent les jeunes en Suisse". rts.ch (in French). 2024-05-11. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Psychological stress saps workforce of most Swiss SMEs". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "Over 27% of Swiss workers are stressed". 10 October 2018.
- ^ SWI swissinfo.ch (2024-07-04). "Stress and exhaustion widespread among apprentices according to survey". SWI swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ "Swiss count the cost of mental illness". 14 January 2008.
- ^ "Swiss count the cost of mental illness". 14 January 2008.
- ^ "More Swiss treated for depression". 9 November 2010.
- ^ "Podcast - Troubles bipolaires: Comment c'est de vivre avec?". 3 April 2022.
- ^ "Maladie psychique – la schizophrénie touche près de 85'000 personnes en Suisse". 6 March 2021.
- ^ "Compter les moutons – Pourquoi la moitié de la Suisse dort mal". 21 June 2022.
- ^ "Alzheimer cases will more than double by 2050". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2021-09-21. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
- ^ "More Swiss are getting cancer, but fewer are dying from it". 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Tabac et alcool figurent en tête des causes de cancer". Le Temps. 19 August 2022.
- ^ "What people in Switzerland are addicted to". 5 February 2020.
- ^ "What people in Switzerland are addicted to". 5 February 2020.
- ^ "Gambling bans spike in Switzerland". 20 September 2021.
- ^ "What people in Switzerland are addicted to". 5 February 2020.
- ^ "Health office approves first Swiss project to sell cannabis for recreational use". 19 April 2022.
- ^ Misicka, Susan (5 February 2020). "What people in Switzerland are addicted to". SWI swissinfo.ch.
- ^ sm (10 March 2018). "Zurich is Europe's weekend cocaine capital". SWI swissinfo.ch.
- ^ ilj (6 July 2018). "Youth crime: more drug use, less dealing". SWI swissinfo.ch.
- ^ Miriam Wolf & Michael Herzig (July 2019). "Inside Switzerland’s Radical Drug Policy Innovation". Stanford SOCIAL INNOVATION Review. Retrieved 28 September 2020.
- ^ "Opioid abuse on the rise in Switzerland". 28 June 2022.
- ^ Uchtenhagen et al., 1999
- ^ Ribeaud, Denis (2004). "Long-term Impacts of the Swiss Heroin Prescription Trials on Crime of Treated Heroin Users". Journal of Drug Issues (Tallahassee, FL: University of Florida): 187.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "Switzerland". 7 July 2021.
- ^ "What people in Switzerland are addicted to". 5 February 2020.
- ^ "Quarter of Swiss use painkillers". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
- ^ "How healthy are the Swiss?". 30 October 2018.
- ^ "What people in Switzerland are addicted to". 5 February 2020.
- ^ "How healthy are the Swiss?". 30 October 2018.
- ^ "HIV infections drop by a third". 23 November 2020.
- ^ "Chlamydia et gonorrhée – la hausse des infections sexuelles inquiète les experts". 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Chlamydia et gonorrhée – la hausse des infections sexuelles inquiète les experts". 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Research identifies 134 'forever chemicals' hotspots across Switzerland". 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Temps présent - Pesticides, à quand la fin du carnage ?". 16 September 2021.
- ^ "High levels of dioxin found in Lausanne soils". 11 October 2021.
- ^ "La Suisse compte encore près de 38'000 sites pollués à assainir". 2 September 2016.
- ^ "5G is not harmful to health, says government report". 28 July 2022.
- ^ "Swiss landfill site found to contain low-level radioactive material". SWI swissinfo.ch. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2023-09-07.
- ^ "How healthy are the Swiss?". 30 October 2018.
- ^ "How healthy are the Swiss?". 30 October 2018.
- ^ "More Swiss are getting cancer, but fewer are dying from it". 14 October 2021.
- ^ "Swiss suicide rate continues downward trend". 3 October 2022.