Culture, risk factors and mortality: can Switzerland add missing pieces to the European puzzle?

Faeh, D; Minder, C; Gutzwiller, F; Bopp, M (2009). Culture, risk factors and mortality: can Switzerland add missing pieces to the European puzzle? Journal of epidemiology and community health, 63(8), pp. 639-45. London: BMJ Publishing Group 10.1136/jech.2008.081042

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BACKGROUND: The aim was to compare cause-specific mortality, self-rated health (SRH) and risk factors in the French and German part of Switzerland and to discuss to what extent variations between these regions reflect differences between France and Germany. METHODS: Data were used from the general population of German and French Switzerland with 2.8 million individuals aged 45-74 years, contributing 176 782 deaths between 1990 and 2000. Adjusted mortality risks were calculated from the Swiss National Cohort, a longitudinal census-based record linkage study. Results were contrasted with cross-sectional analyses of SRH and risk factors (Swiss Health Survey 1992/3) and with cross-sectional national and international mortality rates for 1980, 1990 and 2000. RESULTS: Despite similar all-cause mortality, there were substantial differences in cause-specific mortality between Swiss regions. Deaths from circulatory disease were more common in German Switzerland, while causes related to alcohol consumption were more prevalent in French Switzerland. Many but not all of the mortality differences between the two regions could be explained by variations in risk factors. Similar patterns were found between Germany and France. CONCLUSION: Characteristic mortality and behavioural differentials between the German- and the French-speaking parts of Switzerland could also be found between Germany and France. However, some of the international variations in mortality were not in line with the Swiss regional comparison nor with differences in risk factors. These could relate to peculiarities in assignment of cause of death. With its cultural diversity, Switzerland offers the opportunity to examine cultural determinants of mortality without bias due to different statistical systems or national health policies.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)
UniBE Contributor:	Minder, Christoph Erwin
ISSN:	0143-005X
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 15:10
Last Modified:	05 Dec 2022 14:21
Publisher DOI:	10.1136/jech.2008.081042
Web of Science ID:	000267941400011
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/30618 (FactScience: 194863)