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Mortality from respiratory tuberculosis in Switzerland
H L Rieder1, M Zwahlen, H Zimmermann
1International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris. HRieder@compuserve.com
Sozial- Und Praventivmedizin
|August 11, 1998
Summary
Tuberculosis mortality in Switzerland has been declining for over 160 years. Analysis reveals that respiratory tuberculosis historically impacted younger populations most severely, a trend masked by age-related mortality increases.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Historical Demography
Background:
- Detailed mortality statistics from tuberculosis in Switzerland have been published by the Swiss Federal Office of Statistics since 1901.
- Utilizing cross-sectional data from 1901 to 1991 on respiratory tuberculosis deaths.
- Retrospective analysis of tuberculosis death experience within birth cohorts.
Observation:
- Cross-sectional data show tuberculosis mortality increasing with age across successive decades.
- Cohort-contour analysis reveals a historical pattern of higher mortality in early adulthood for each cohort.
- Respiratory tuberculosis in Switzerland consistently affected younger individuals preferentially.
Findings:
- Tuberculosis mortality in Switzerland has shown a continuous decrease for at least 160 years.
- The peak of tuberculosis mortality may have occurred as early as the eighteenth century.
- The apparent age-related increase in mortality is an artifact of cohort-specific early-adulthood mortality.
Implications:
- Understanding historical tuberculosis trends is crucial for contemporary public health strategies.
- Cohort analysis provides deeper insights into disease patterns than cross-sectional data alone.
- The findings highlight the long-term success of public health interventions in reducing tuberculosis burden.