Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “SWITZERLAND”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

TBE foci in Switzerland.

To give information about the situation in Switzerland and especially in the canton Thurgau. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Switzerland has to be reported to official bodies, such as the Cantonal Office of Health and the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. The registered cases are published weekly in the Bulletin of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. A map with geographical sites of infection has been published by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health from time to time. In addition we collect epidemiological data in our diagnostic setting servicing part of eastern Switzerland. The situation of every patient diagnosed in our laboratory is followed up by a questionnaire. Some data derive from an epidemiological study conducted by Baumberger et al. (1996) and from another study conducted in the principality of Liechtenstein (Krech et al., 1992). The data of a more recent publication are also included (Schwanda et al., 2000). More historical data are taken from Krech (1980). Recently, the global positioning system (GPS) connected to a laptop computer containing a geographical map on CD-ROM was used for better determination of possible TBE microfoci. TBE is endemic in areas of northern Switzerland and the principality of Liechtenstein. The number of reported new infections in Switzerland per year ranges between 60 and 120 cases, most of them with neurological manifestations. This represents an incidence of 0.5-1.5 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. In the last 10 years a prominent increase of the number of reported cases occurred in Switzerland, namely from 30-70 cases per year to 60-120 cases per year. This increase was mainly caused by the emergence of TBE in the cantons of Thurgau, Aargau and St. Gallen, all localised in the north-eastern part of Switzerland. The canton Thurgau became the most dangerous region in Switzerland for TBE during the last ten years. Besides the known endemic areas of the regions of Schaffhausen, Thun and Biel-Ins, a number of additional foci have been detected during the last 20 years. These are situated, for instance, around the lake of Zurich or in the region of Chur. In the canton Thurgau, new cases could be located east of the formerly known foci. Besides the larger epidemic areas known there are several TBE virus microfoci in Switzerland and more microfoci are still recognized. Despite active vaccination of persons at risk the incidence of reported TBE cases has increased during the last 20 years, now being between 60 and 120 cases per year, some of them with a severe and prolonged course. No TBE foci have been recognized in western und southern Switzerland so far. From our observations we have got the impression that real new TBE foci are emerging in some regions of eastern Switzerland.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

[Breast cancer prevention behaviour: a perspective of women from three language regions of Switzerland].

UNLABELLED: Swiss women show, together with women from the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, England and Germany, a very high incidence of breast cancer in Europe. Whilst the evidence for primary cancer prevention is slowly growing, its strategies can not yet be implemented in clinical prevention programmes. Therefore, secondary prevention, early detection of cancer, remains the main focus for reducing breast cancer mortality. This is especially true because of the proven relationship between mortality and size of the primary tumour as well as the status of the axilla. Despite these facts, in contrast to the French part of Switzerland, breast cancer screening has not yet been implemented in the German and Italian part of Switzerland. METHODS: It was the aim of this study to identify prevention measures used by women living in the German-, Italian- and French-speaking part of Switzerland and to explore their attitude towards breast cancer prevention measures. It was asked what these women knew about breast cancer prevention, what type of secondary prevention they used and who motivated them to do so. The investigation included 1721 women from three language regions of Switzerland. Data were collected with a postal survey questionnaire. Descriptive, uni- and multivariate methods were used for data analysis. RESULTS: The response rate was 34%. Statistically significant differences in breast self-examination were observed between the three regions (p = < 0.001) and defined age-groups (p = < or = 0.001). In all three regions of the country, 90% of women age 50-59 had mammograms, whereas in comparison to the other regions, fewer women from the German part of Switzerland, aged 60-69, had undergone mammography screening. Significant differences in mammography screening again were observed between language regions (p = < or = 0.001) and age-groups (p = < or = 0.001). Eighty-four percent of women were motivated by the gynaecologist to have a mammography, 11% by the family doctor and 10% of the women decided by themselves. More than half of this female Swiss study population wished to see a health policy providing mammography-screening in Switzerland and about one third wished to be more informed about the intervention. An increased need for information and education about prevention and early detection was observed in individuals who had a relative with cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of women in this study wished to see a health policy in Switzerland which includes a mammography screening programme. Opportunistic mammography screening, lacking systematic quality control and data collection for epidemiological purposes, was widely used in the Italian and in the German speaking region. Data show that there is a need for public and professional information and education about prevention and early detection of breast cancer to prevent misconceptions regarding the effect of breast self-examination and mammography-screening. Womens' organisations and nurses may be in a good position to take up a leading role in breast cancer prevention.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

[Oral health behavior in Germany and Switzerland].

This survey compares attitudes between populations in Switzerland and Germany, deemed to be important for maintaining oral health. Among others, three aspects were singled out: sugar consumption, smoking and oral hygiene. The annual sugar consumption per capita in Switzerland is 42% higher than in Germany, or 47 kg compared to 33 kg in Germany. The amount recommended by WHO, 22 kg per annum, is exceeded in Switzerland by 114%, in Germany by 50%. The annual cigarette consumption in Switzerland amounts to 2880 per capita, which is 59% higher than that of Germany with 1814. The annual use of tooth paste in Switzerland is an average 333 ml per capita, which corresponds to 53% of the minimal amount (628 ml) recommended by authorities. The annual per capita use of tooth paste in Germany averages 336 ml, or 54% of what is recommended. The annual usage of dental floss in Switzerland is on average 0.15 packets per capita, which is 4.1% of what is seen to be an adequate quantity of 3.65 packets. In Germany the corresponding figures are 0.08 packets and 2.2%. The usage of interdental brushes is minute in both countries with 0.05 packets in Switzerland and 0.04 packets in Germany. These data are contrary to what is often claimed in dental medical literature and mass media which is that the Swiss population is far better at an active oral health maintenance than the German population, due to the financial pressure on Swiss patients (private payments for dental services).

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1997

[The language of medicine in Switzerland 1920 to 1995].

AIM OF STUDY: It is generally accepted that since the end of the Second World War, English has become the main language in the medical field in Switzerland, but scarcely any objective data are available on the development of this process in this country. The aim of the present study was to analyze the frequency of the different languages in the literature references in articles published in the Swiss Medical Weekly over the past 75 years, with special attention to the possible differences existing between articles originating in German-speaking Switzerland and French-speaking Switzerland. METHODS: The language of publication of 47,160 literature references cited in 2489 original articles published in the Swiss Medical Weekly between 1920 and 1995 was established. The 1730 articles published in German contained 32,607 assessable references; the 759 articles published in French contained 14,553 assessable references. RESULTS: The percentages of literature references in German, French and English cited in the articles written in German were, respectively, 83.6%, 9.1% and 5.9% in 1920; 68.6%, 7.2% and 18.3% in 1945; 30.7%, 5.6% and 61.9% in 1970; 11.3%, 1.5% and 86.7% in 1995. The percentages of literature references in French, German and English cited in the articles written in French were, respectively, 61.1%, 31.8% and 4.0% in 1920; 30.6%, 39.3% and 26.5% in 1945; 19.8%, 9.6% and 69.7% in 1970; 7.4%, 2.4% and 90.0% in 1995. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Between 1945 and 1995 the percentage of literature references in English has increased continuously, while the percentages of references in German and French have decreased. (2) English replaced German as the main language of medicine towards 1955 in French-speaking Switzerland and towards 1965 in German-speaking Switzerland. (3) During the whole period studied (1920-1995), French-speaking authors cited publications in German more frequently than German-speaking authors cited publications in French. (4) The evolution of the relative importance of the languages in German-speaking Switzerland is very similar to that previously described in Germany and Austria. (5) In French-speaking Switzerland, on the other hand, the evolution of the relative importance of the different languages differs very considerably from that previously described in France.

Forecasting↗
PubMed1999

[Inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption in Switzerland: results of the Swiss Health Survey 1992/93].

Inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables increases the risk of various (chronical) diseases. It is therefore recommended to eat at least three portions of vegetables and two portions of fruit every day. The present study aims to determine the prevalence of inadequate fruit and vegetable (potatoes are not regarded as vegetables in Switzerland) consumption in Switzerland and to determine sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates of inadequate consumption. Data presented in this study were taken from the first national representative health survey for Switzerland (conducted 1992/1993) including 7930 men and 7358 women (response rate 71%), age 15 and over. Bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regressions controlling for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors were done. Inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetables was common among the study population. Less than daily consumption of fruit was reported by about 30%, of vegetables by 17%. About 25% of study participants do not eat fruit or vegetables every day, for 11% the consumption of both is insufficient. Men, young people, study participants with a low educational background, people living in the French and Italian speaking part of Switzerland, smokers and participants with low physical activity reported more often inadequate fruit and vegetable intake than women, older people, well educated study participants, inhabitants of the German speaking part of Switzerland, nonsmokers, and less physically active people. These results stress the need for nutrition education programs aimed at increased consumption of fruit and vegetables in Switzerland.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Obesity and its comorbidities: present and future importance on health status in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to estimate the proportion of various diseases attributable to obesity in Switzerland in order to get a hint of its present and future importance on health status and on our health care budgets. METHODS: The population attributable risk (PAR) for each of 17 obesity-linked conditions was estimated as the proportion of each disease condition which is attributable to obesity. The fraction of each disease that is attributable to obesity in Switzerland was calculated using the proportion (prevalence) of obesity in Switzerland and the relative risk of suffering from a given obesity-related disease in Switzerland or comparable countries. RESULTS: With a PAR of 88.6% diabetes represents the disease with the highest proportion attributable to obesity in Switzerland. It is followed by a PAF of 26.8% for hypertension, 24.7% for oesophageal cancer and 24.4% for gallstones. PARs of 17.4% and 5.7% were estimated for coronary heart disease and depression. CONCLUSION: Treatment of these first four diseases represents 89% of the total health care costs attributable to obesity in Switzerland. The impact the present obesity epidemic on health status as well as its social and economic consequences must be recognised.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Population-based study of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in very low birth weight infants in Switzerland.

UNLABELLED: In Switzerland, data are collected prospectively by collaborators from all nine neonatal intensive care units and their affiliated paediatric units caring for neonates, to determine survival and (pulmonary) outcome of infants with birth weights ranging from 501 to 1500 g. To assess the pulmonary outcome of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants in Switzerland in 1996 and 2000, factors associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) were identified and compared with pulmonary outcomes from the Vermont Oxford Network data. BPD was defined as a requirement for supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks postmenstrual age. Complete data were available for 600 and 636 VLBW infants in 1996 and in 2000, respectively. Mortality rates in Switzerland were significantly higher (1996: 19.2%, 2000: 20.8%) than in the Vermont Oxford Network (1996: 14%, 2000: 14%). Expressed as percentage of infants still hospitalised at 36 weeks postmenstrual age, 16.7% and 13.2% of Swiss VLBW infants were diagnosed with BPD in 1996 and 2000, respectively. These rates were significantly lower than in the Vermont Oxford Network (1996: 28%, 2000: 35%). Infants exposed to factors previously shown to be associated with BPD were investigated: in Switzerland, infants with a history of surfactant replacement therapy and/or mechanical ventilation had a significantly higher rate of BPD in both cohorts. Infants with postnatal transport, sepsis proven by positive blood culture and patent ductus arteriosus had a higher BPD rate only in the 1996 cohort. Between 1996 and 2000, mortality rates and incidence of BPD in VLBW infants remained unchanged in Switzerland. BPD rates in Switzerland are lower than those found in the Vermont Oxford Network whereas a mortality rate comparison displays an inverted picture. We suspect that these effects are interrelated and may be due in part to a selective approach of Swiss neonatologists to resuscitation of infants in the smallest birth weight stratum. CONCLUSION: The factors listed above have apparently become less important in the context of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and other influences, including prenatal conditions, will need to be investigated.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗
PubMed2005

Seroprevalence of anaplasmosis among cattle in Switzerland in 1998 and 2003: no evidence of an emerging disease.

Anaplasma marginale infection in Europe has been limited to the Mediterranean and eastern countries, to Austria and to very sporadic cases in Switzerland. There are no reports of its occurrence in the countries north of Switzerland. A severe outbreak of anaplasmosis in August 2002 in a cattle farm in the canton Grisons, Switzerland, north of the Alps, with more than 300 cattle that had to be culled, came unexpected and gave reason to hypothesize presence of an increased yet undetected prevalence of A. marginale in Switzerland. Randomly selected bovine serum samples collected in 1998 and 2003 were tested using a competitive inhibitory ELISA (cELISA) to test the hypothesis. Our validation of the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of this test, done in the outbreak herd, yielded 99.2 and 83.3%, respectively, probably underestimating the true specificity. The true seroprevalence of anaplasmosis in Swiss cattle determined by cELISA was likely to be zero with upper 95% confidence limits of 2.49% in the canton Grisons and 1.17% in the rest of Switzerland, respectively, in 1998. For 2003, these estimates were even lower. There was no significant difference in apparent prevalences between 1998 and 2003. In search of a possible reservoir, three chamoises out of 46 free ranging wild ruminants from the Swiss National Park, Grisons, tested positive in the cELISA. This reaction is in accordance with A. marginale or a cross reacting agent such as Anaplasma ovis. From our results we conclude that the hypothesis of an increased prevalence of anaplasmosis in cattle in Switzerland must be rejected.

Anaplasma marginale↗
PubMed2006

Health care for older persons in Switzerland: a country profile.

Switzerland has the second-most-expensive healthcare system worldwide, with 11.5% of gross domestic product spent on health care in 2003. Switzerland has a healthcare system with universal insurance coverage and a social insurance system, ensuring an adequate financial situation for 96% of the 1.1 million older inhabitants. Key concerns related to the care of older persons are topics such as increasing healthcare costs, growing public awareness of patient autonomy, and challenges related to assisted suicide. In 2004, the Swiss Academy of Medical Sciences issued guidelines for the care of disabled older persons. Since 2000, geriatrics has been a board-certified discipline with a 3-year training program in addition to 5 years of training in internal or family medicine. There are approximately 125 certified geriatricians in Switzerland, working primarily in geriatric centers in urban areas. Switzerland has an excellent research environment, ranking second of all countries worldwide in life sciences research-but only 13th in aging research. This is in part due to a lack of specific training programs promoting research on aging and inadequate funding. In addition, there is a shortage of academic geriatricians in Switzerland, in part due to the fact that two of five Swiss universities had no academic geriatric departments in 2005. With more-adequate financial resources for academic geriatrics, Switzerland would have the opportunity to contribute more to aging research internationally and to improved care for older patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Mammography screening in Switzerland: limited evidence from limited data.

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: In Switzerland controversy exists on how to summarise the evidence on the efficacy and effectiveness, as well as adverse effects, of mammography screening, and breast cancer mortality trends are often discussed in the context of the impact of mammography. PRINCIPLES/METHODS: Single-study publications, meta-analyses, and reports by international expert groups on mammography screening are reviewed. Breast cancer mortality trends from 1970-2000 are reported and discussed in the context of the Swiss screening situation. RESULTS: In Switzerland breast cancer mortality rates for female Swiss nationals aged 50-79 years fell between 1990 and 2000 by some 25% in all language regions. The data from randomised studies in large populations in several countries with well organised mammography programmes prompt the conclusion that participation in organised screening programmes with rigorous quality standards reduces breast cancer mortality. The achievable long-term reduction in breast cancer mortality ranges from 5-20% in the target population provided that appropriate diagnostic investigation and treatment are available. To achieve this in Switzerland 830 to 3300 women need to be invited to screening for ten years to prevent one death from breast cancer. The risk-benefit profile of mammography screening is likely to be less favourable if mammographies are performed outside the context of organised screening programmes. In Switzerland we are now confronted with growing regional disparities in access to screening mammography which is under systematic quality control. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in breast cancer mortality in Switzerland is most probably due to treatment developments and changes in cause-of-death coding. Public health measures in Switzerland should aim at regulating quality control for screening mammography, monitoring mammography use and improving the information on mammography available to women. For an evidence-based decision regarding health insurance coverage of screening mammography in 2007, large gaps need to be filled. The current coexistence of systematic screening programmes and opportunistic screening, with distinct regional differences, provides a unique opportunity for research into the merits and drawbacks of the two approaches.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Ragweed (Ambrosia) progression and its health risks: will Switzerland resist this invasion?

The purpose of this article is to alert physicians for the environmental and health threats of Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed) in Switzerland. Switzerland borders several heavily ragweed colonised areas. Up to 12% of the population suffers from allergies (hay fever, asthma) to ragweed pollen in these areas. Switzerland is beginning to be invaded by this plant. Currently, the ragweed pollen counts are still low but can reach local peaks that induce symptoms in allergic individuals. Ragweed allergy, however, is still rare in Switzerland. Because the amount of ragweed pollen was increasing in the last few years, identification and surveillance of ragweed plant foci was started. Colonisation is currently systematically monitored in Geneva and southern Tessin. Major accumulation of ragweed foci have been detected in the canton of Geneva, the western shore of the lake of Geneva belonging to the canton of Vaud, and in the southern part of the canton of Tessin, aside from minor foci registered all over Switzerland. The routes of ragweed invasion are presented and discussed. Current measures of ragweed containment and needs for the future are presented. The urge for these measures at an early stage of ragweed spread is underlined by the impracticability of eradication in highly colonised areas. The costs of preventing ragweed spread in Switzerland are likely to be several magnitudes lower than the treatment of a significant percentage of the Swiss population for ragweed pollen allergy. Because areas can change from low to heavy ragweed colonisation within a few years, the current window of opportunity to prevent further colonisation by ragweed should not be missed.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1979

[Drinking behavior in Switzerland].

The results of a broad survey of drinking behaviour in Switzerland are reported. It is based on a questionnaire considered to be representative obtained from 1500 residents of Switzerland between 15 and 74 years of age. The study confirms previous findings that, similar as in other countries, alcohol consumption in Switzerland is distributed in the population as a logarithmic curve. The results demonstrate that the alcohol consumed in amounts which are considered to be dangerous to health (daily consumption of pure alcohol: 80 grams and more) was found to be 30% of total consumption in German and French Switzerland, and 47% in Italian Switzerland respectively. In contrast to other countries there is no predominance of particular beverages, but there are some clear-cut preferences for certain beverages in certain areas within the country. The study further demonstrates that in areas with higher average consumption a higher percentage of heavy consumers is found; this is particularly the case for French and Italian Switzerland. Moreover, a higher average consumption is associated with an increase in mortality rates from alcohol-related cirrhosis of the liver. The relationship between regional average consumption and mortality rates from cirrhosis indicates not a linear, but an exponential increase of the latter with rising consumption. It was found that the following social-demographic variables are significantly associated with the prevalence to drinking: sex, age, income and education.

Adolescent↗