In 2022, a total of 6.8% of the population in Switzerland had a chronic respiratory disease: 5.4% had asthma and 2.0% had chronic bronchitis, a symptomatic COPD or emphysema (medically diagnosed).
Asthma is more common among women (6.1%) than men (4.7%). Chronic bronchitis, COPD and emphysema, by contrast, occur equally frequently in both genders, and cases thereof tend to increase with age. With chronic bronchitis, COPD and emphysema, major differences can also be seen in occurrence by education level: persons who have completed only compulsory schooling are more likely to suffer from these conditions (5.1%) than those with an upper secondary level qualification (2.6%) or tertiary qualification (1.1%).
This indicator is part of the Monitoring System Addiction and NCD (MonAM) of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the two most common chronic respiratory diseases. Bronchial asthma often starts in childhood and is characterised by difficulty in breathing, often accompanied by wheezing and coughing. The disease is due to an over-sensitivity of the airways. COPD is an umbrella term for respiratory diseases associated with coughing, expectoration and difficulty in breathing. Chronic bronchitis and obstructive emphysema often lead to COPD. COPD especially affects people who smoked for a long time. For this reason it is also commonly known as ‘smoker’s cough’ (WHO, 2024). According to the Swiss Lung League, some 400 000 people in Switzerland suffer from COPD (Swiss Lung League, 2023).
This indicator was calculated on the basis of data from the Swiss Health Survey (SHS, n2022 ≈ 22 000) and is updated every five years.
It shows the percentage of the population aged 15 or over and living in private households who have been diagnosed with asthma, chronic bronchitis, COPD or emphysema.
The indicator is based on the following questions:
Time series break between 2012 and 2017: These questions were asked in writing up until 2012, but have been asked by phone since 2017. The questions were also formulated differently in 2012, and did not extend to COPD. In view of this, the data from the 2012 and 2017 surveys are not directly comparable.
An explanation of socio-demographic variables can be found in the document: Definition of the characteristics
Standardisation: Use the slider above the graphic to display the age and sex-standardised figures. Standardisation levels out age- and gender-specific differences in comparisons between different population groups (e.g. between cantons or educational levels) and over time. More information: Standardisation – explanation and calculation
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