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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.57187/5162

Original article

Vol. 156 No. 9 (2026)

Physical inactivity attributable burden of disease on morbidity and mortality across Swiss language regions: a population-based modelling study

Cite this as:
Swiss Med Wkly. 2026;156:5162
Published
24.09.2026

Summary

 

BACKGROUND: Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, contributing to both substantial morbidity and premature mortality. In Switzerland, the prevalence of physical inactivity varies across language regions. This study aimed to quantify differences across Swiss language regions in the physical inactivity-attributable burden of disease, expressed as Years Lived with Disability (YLD) and Years of Life Lost (YLL) for 2022. The analysis focuses on YLD and YLL attributable to physical inactivity across 15 physical inactivity-associated diseases.

METHODS: This study employed the Population Attributable Fraction approach to estimate the proportion of YLD and YLL attributable to physical inactivity in Switzerland. The analysis included individuals aged >20 years and was stratified by disease, age, sex and language region (German-, French- and Italian-speaking). Physical inactivity was defined according to WHO guidelines as not meeting at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. Prevalence data on physical inactivity were derived from the 2022 Swiss Health Survey. Prevalences were combined with relative risks (RR) of corresponding diseases, identified through a systematic literature search to derive Population Attributable Fractions. Estimates of YLD and YLL for Switzerland for 2022 were derived from the Global Burden of Disease study. YLD and YLL estimates attributable to physical inactivity are presented as rates per 100,000 people aged >20 years. Uncertainty was assessed using parametric bootstrapping.

RESULTS: Overall, the physical inactivity-attributable burden of disease was estimated at 227.08 (95% CI: 214.74–240.08) YLD and 424.23 (95% CI: 383.15–479.23) YLL per 100,000 people aged >20 years. This corresponds to approximately 2% of total DALYs in Switzerland in 2022. Clear regional differences were observed. Estimated physical inactivity-attributable YLD rates were highest in the Italian-speaking region (134.90; 95% CI: 122.04–148.25) followed by the French-speaking region (130.72; 95% CI: 120.78–141.50) and German-speaking region (96.26; 95% CI: 88.81–104.01). Similarly, estimated YLL rates attributable to physical inactivity were highest in the Italian-speaking region (287.74; 95% CI: 245.82–349.99), followed by the French-speaking region (221.56; 95% CI: 192.54–264.55) and German-speaking region (186.67; 95% CI: 162.64–222.27). Disease-specific analysis indicated that depression (93.38; 95% CI: 85.46–101.80) and low back pain (52.01; 95% CI: 45.90–58.47) contributed most to physical inactivity-attributable YLD rates, whereas coronary heart disease (132.12; 95% CI: 115.60–149.55) and Alzheimer’s disease and dementia (83.61; 95% CI: 51.90–134.97) were the main contributors to physical inactivity-attributable YLL rates. Women showed consistently higher burden of disease than men, with physical inactivity-attributable YLD rates of 286.06 (95% CI: 264.58–308.90) versus 166.32 (95% CI: 155.06–178.44) and physical inactivity-attributable YLL rates of 475.23 (95% CI: 404.85–577.64) versus 371.69 (95% CI: 337.50–414.96).

CONCLUSION: Results of this analysis suggest that physical inactivity significantly contributes to YLD and YLL rates in Switzerland, with pronounced regional and sex-specific disparities. The higher burden of disease observed in the Italian- and French-speaking regions highlights the need for regionally tailored prevention strategies that address cultural and contextual differences.

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