Living with chronic diseases – an underestimated reality

finally. design Feb 17, 2025

Leben mit chronischen Krankheiten – eine unterschätzte Realität

Chronic diseases or non-communicable diseases (NCDs) affect a large part of the population – in Switzerland and worldwide. However, how many people actually live with a chronic disease is often underestimated.

According to the Swiss Health Observatory (OBSAN), around 37% of the population reported having at least one chronic disease in the 2022 Swiss Health Survey. But this number is likely to be higher in reality, as many diseases - such as rare diseases, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases or neurological disorders - were not recorded at all.

A constant companion in everyday life

As society ages, chronic illnesses are becoming a reality for more and more people. Half of people aged 55 and over live with a chronic illness , and the figure for those over 75 is 85% .

Some illnesses gradually change everyday life - not only for the affected person, but also for those around them. One example is dementia , which affects memory and personality. But with good care and a supportive environment, a high quality of life can be maintained.

When illness leads to social isolation

An often underestimated risk of many chronic diseases is social isolation . It can occur when:
🔹 Those around the person do not understand the illness or take it seriously.
🔹 Those affected withdraw or do not seek support.
🔹 Public places are not designed to be barrier-free or inclusive.

But social isolation can severely affect well-being, health and self-esteem .

Care, Self-Care and We-Care

The next article in this series will cover the topic Care in the context of chronic diseases:

What does “care” really mean?
Why is Is self-care essential in fragile phases of life?
How can accepting support be a form of self-determination?

We also present contact points where people with chronic illnesses or disabilities can exchange ideas and find support.

finally is committed to quality of life, self-care and self-determination. We design products that make decision-making easier and support caring relationship work.

Chronic diseases, also known as noncommunicable diseases (NCD) are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioral factors. They develop slowly and are usually long-lasting. They cannot be completely cured and therefore often require repeated treatment.

OBSAN (2024, November 21). Prevalence of NCDs (Age: 15+) . https://ind.obsan.admin.ch/indicator/monam/praevalenz-ncd-alter-15 . Retrieved on January 16, 2025.