Policy Brief
Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Switzerland
By: Grace DiCarlo
Switzerland’s leading causes of
death consist vastly of noncommunicable
diseases (NCD), accounting for 90% of
deaths (WHO, 2018). One of their most
prevalent leading causes of death is
cardiovascular disease resulting in 31% of
NCD deaths (WHO, 2018). The mortality
differs with age with around 30% in 45-84-
year-olds and 45% in ages 85 years and
older (Carbello & Mach, 2016). The rates of
cardiovascular disease are high in
Switzerland because they have an aging
population. Since elderly individuals are
more impacted, the rates increase faster.
Heart disease is the largest contributor to
disability adjusted life years in several Swiss
cantons.
NCD’s need to be better managed
and prevented, especially in the case of
CVD. One of the most beneficial approaches
to preventing and managing CVD is
adequate education on a healthy lifestyle,
diet, alcohol consumption and smoking.
Also, educating those at risk and those who
obtained the disease, how to track blood
pressure and cholesterol levels (CDC).
These are environmental approaches that
can decrease the rate of CVD in the country.
Surveillance and other epidemiological
trends are necessary for tracking and
monitoring the incidence and prevalence of
CVD (CDC). Surveillance helps with
following the trends of the disease and
tracking the prevention methods, risk factors
and much more (CDC).
Health systems and community
programs are needed in the onset of any
disease. Health care system interventions
occur in a clinical setting and include
physicians, nurses, doctors and more. They
monitor and report blood pressure and other
factors that play a role in CVD to help with
the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Community programs are also beneficial to
those with CVD because it targets people at
risk for the disease and provides a safe space
for them to communicate and get help
(CDC). These programs consist of a wide
population with or at risk of CVD and those
who work in the health field.
Health system interventions are the
most essential solution to limiting the rates
of CVD in Switzerland. Although the
COVID-19 pandemic is causing a recession
due to maniac amounts of funding and
medical attention (Grampp, 2020), these
interventions are relatively cost efficient.
These health systems are advantageous
because it can lead to early detection of the
disease, better quality disease management
and overall prevention of CVD (CDC).
Since these health systems take place in a
clinical setting, it is necessary to have more
adequate healthcare providers, medication,
and pharmaceutical help. Informative
explanations of the disease, medications and
monitoring techniques are vital. Allowing
those at risk and those who already have the
disease to know how to carefully manage
their lifestyle, to make sure they check their
blood pressure and their cholesterol levels is
essential.
Overall, Switzerland has the tools to
achieve a healthy population and reduce the
risk of CVD in the country. It is up to the
Minister of Health to help in the reduction of
this easily preventable, but life-threatening
disease.
Policy Brief
Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Switzerland

References:
Carbello, D. & Mach, F. (2016). Country
Report Switzerland. Retrieved on
September 29, 2020 from:
https://www.escardio.org/static-
file/Escardio/Subspecialty/EAPC/Co
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country-of-the-month-full-report.pdf
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
(n.d.). Best Practices for
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Programs. Retrieved on September
29, 2020 from:
https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/pubs/doc
s/Best-Practices-Guide-508.pdf
Grampp, M. (2020). The COVID-19 crisis is
hitting the Swiss economy hard.
Retrieved on September 28, 2020
from:
https://www2.deloitte.com/ch/en/pag
es/finance/articles/covid-19-crisis-
hitting-swiss-economy-hard.html
World Health Organization. (2018).
Switzerland. Retrieved on September
28, 2020 from:
https://www.who.int/nmh/countries/c
he_en.pdf?ua=1