The Federal Statistical Office (FSO) surveys the population about their health every five years. The latest results show that the general state of health has remained almost unchanged compared to previous years: in 2022, 85% of the population aged 15 and over felt healthy and 83% felt happy. The proportion of smokers has fallen slightly. Alternative products such as e-cigarettes are mainly consumed by young adults. Drinking patterns have changed when it comes to alcohol. Psychological stress has increased, especially among young women.
The Swiss Health Survey is a sample survey based on computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI) and a subsequent written survey. The resident population in private households aged 15 and over was surveyed [1,2]. The survey languages were German, French and Italian. The survey was conducted throughout 2022 in order to compensate for seasonal fluctuations. The survey covered the following topics:
- Physical, mental and social well-being, complaints and illnesses, accidents, disabilities
- Living conditions that are important for health, e.g. working conditions, social relationships, housing conditions, physical environment
- Health resources in terms of social support, autonomy and development opportunities
- Lifestyle characteristics and behaviors, e.g. physical activity, dietary habits, smoking, alcohol and drug consumption, use of medication
- Utilization of health services.
“We are committed to enabling our population to lead a healthy life,” said Anne Lévy, Director of the FOPH, at a media conference with the FSO on the results of the Swiss Health Survey 2022 [1]. It remains important for the FOPH to provide the population with good information on how to improve health and how to organize working and living conditions in such a way as to facilitate a healthy lifestyle. The “National Strategy for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases” (NCD), which includes cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular problems, musculoskeletal and respiratory diseases as well as mental illnesses and dementia, serves this purpose.
Significant increase in obesity within thirty years
The proportion of people who are overweight or obese rose sharply from 30% to 43% between 1992 and 2022 [1,2]. The proportion of obese people has more than doubled in 30 years: from 5% in 1992 to 12% in 2022. However, the increase has slowed since 2012: only a slow increase has been recorded for obesity and none for overweight. Overweight and obesity are significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, certain cancers (especially breast and colon cancer) and musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis. Compared to people of normal weight, obese people are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure (40% compared to 12%), high cholesterol (24% compared to 10%) and diabetes (15% compared to 2%)
Fewer and fewer heavy smokers
Since 1992, the proportion of smokers has fallen from 30% to 24% in 2022 [1,2]. The proportion of heavy smokers (20 cigarettes or more per day) has also fallen steadily since 1992 (12%) to 4% in 2022. A total of 3% of the population used e-cigarettes in 2022, regardless of whether they smoked tobacco or not. The highest use of the
e-cigarettes among men and women aged 15 to 24 (5% and 6% respectively). Snus (tobacco for sucking) is particularly popular with the younger male population. 11% of 15- to 24-year-old men consumed snus in 2022.
| Back pain as a common physical complaint In 2022, 33% of women and 18% of men suffered from severe physical complaints in the last four weeks before the survey. Age has no influence here. These complaints are partly caused by psychosocial characteristics of living conditions such as stress. General weakness and back or lower back pain are the most common physical complaints: Half of women and two out of five men are affected. Women most frequently report general weakness, while back pain is the most common complaint among men. |
| according to [2] |
Binge drinking more common among younger people
Since 1992, the proportion of people who consume alcohol on a daily basis has fallen by a good half among both men (from 30% to 12%) and women (from 11% to 5%) [1,2]. This decline is equally evident in all age groups under 65. Daily consumption is far more widespread among people aged 75 and over; in 2022, 37% of men and 15% of women in this age group drank alcohol daily. In 2022, 4% of the population tended to have a chronic risky alcohol consumption, i.e. they drank the equivalent of at least two (women) or four (men) standard glasses of an alcoholic drink per day, with no relevant difference by age group. Since 1997, chronic risky consumption has fallen among both men (from 8% to 4%) and women (from 5% to 3%).
In contrast to chronic risky consumption, “binge drinking”, i.e. sporadic high-risk alcohol consumption, mainly affects adolescents and young adults [1,2]. Binge drinking refers to the consumption of at least four standard glasses of an alcoholic drink for women and at least five glasses for men on one drinking occasion. 31% of young men aged between 15 and 24 get drunk at least once a month, compared with 20% of women in the same age group. Between 2007 and 2017, the proportion of people who get drunk at least once a month rose from 6% to 11% for women and from 16% to 21% for men, but has remained relatively stable since then (2022: 11% and 19% respectively). Drinking patterns have therefore changed over time: While chronic risky consumption tends to decrease, sporadic risky consumption has become more frequent.
| High blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes In 2022, 22% of men and 17% of women suffered from high blood pressure or were taking medication for it. Between 1992 and 2022, the prevalence of high blood pressure increased continuously: In the overall population from 14% to 20% and in people aged 65 and over from 36% to 49%. In 2022, 15% of the population either had an elevated cholesterol level or were taking cholesterol-lowering medication. From the age of 65, 35% are affected, men more often than women (42% compared to 29%). In 2002, these figures were significantly lower, with no significant differences between the sexes (men: 19%; women: 17%). In 2022, 5% of the population suffered from diabetes or were taking blood sugar-lowering medication or injecting insulin. From the age of 65, the proportion is 12%, with men more frequently affected than women (16% compared to 9%). The proportion of men is rising, as it was 11% in 2007. It has hardly changed for women. |
| according to [2] |
Increase in psychological stress
In 2022, 18% of the population were affected by mental health problems: 4% severely and 14% moderately [1,2]. Women report medium or high levels of psychological stress more frequently than men (21% compared to 14%). Mental stress increased from 15% to 18% compared to 2017. The increase is particularly marked among young women aged 15 to 24 (2017: 19%; 2022: 29%). 9% of young women suffer from severe psychological stress (2017: 4%) 8% of respondents report that they have suffered from depression in the last twelve months. 10% of respondents had an anxiety disorder in the last twelve months. At 18%, young women aged 15 to 24 are particularly affected.
Literature:
- “Swiss Health Survey 2022”, Federal Office of Public Health, 3.11.2023.
- “Swiss Health Survey 2022”, Federal Statistical Office (FSO) (ed.), www.statistik.ch,(last accessed 15.01.2023).
HAUSARZT PRAXIS 2024; 19(1): 51-52 (published on 18.1.24, ahead of print)
