Social situation and hospitalisation due to chronic conditions

The report reveals that certain social groups have an increased risk of being admitted to hospital due to chronic conditions in Switzerland. Those affected are persons with a low education level, limited social resources and a lack of labour market integration. The steepest social gradients are observed for diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, i.e. for diseases for which hospitalisations can be avoided through appropriate outpatient care, as well as for lung cancer and mental disorders. The report discusses possible causes of the increased hospitalisation risks of socially disadvantaged groups and highlights starting points how to reduce them.