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When SARS-CoV-2 hit Europe, almost all countries were introducing severe lockdowns. The Swedes took a different path: soft recommendations, slight – compared to other countries – restrictions. So there was a gastronomy, children went to school. At the start of the pandemic, the lack of protection of high-risk groups resulted in a high rate of COVID-19 deaths. However, Sweden is a country that boasts one of the lowest excess-mortality rates in Europe. Why?
- During the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries took a hard lockdown. Sweden chose a different path, exceptionally gentle
- Citizens were called to stay at home, stay at a distance, keep their hands clean, there was practically no obligation to wear protective masks (it was found that they were not an effective way to limit the spread of the coronavirus)
- In Sweden, the so-called deaths to be avoided was (and still is) one of the lowest in Europe. Among the factors are: the fact that Swedes are among the healthiest and most physically active nations in Europe, as well as a significant increase in health care spending
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
The European Commission recently published reports jointly with the OECD on the health of societies and the situation of health systems in individual EU countries, as well as Iceland and Norway. It is a mine of knowledge about how healthcare is organized in individual countries and what results it brings. The report on Sweden also helps to understand why, despite the lack of hard restrictions, Swedes remain one of the healthiest societies in the world – also during the pandemic.
You could say that when the pandemic started, the Swedes had a high start-up capital. Before 2019, life expectancy at birth was one of the highest in the world – over 83 years (slightly over 75 in Poland). Sweden still boasts one of the lowest smoking prevalence rates in Europe, a lower than European average alcohol consumption rate and one of the highest levels of physical activity.
- Half a million people died in Poland in 2021. The most tragic year since World War II
At the same time, the level of public spending on the healthcare system is one of the highest in Europe (third place; Poland – fourth from the bottom). In addition, as much as 85 percent. health expenditure is public expenditure (in Poland it is 72%). While in Poland as many as half of the deaths are those caused by risk factors (including alcohol consumption, smoking, obesity or insufficient physical activity), in Sweden the so-called deaths to be avoided (thanks to the reduction of risk factors and therapeutic interventions) was (and still is) one of the lowest in Europe.
Sweden also has one of the highest rates of medical professionals per 100. inhabitants (Poland, unfortunately, one of the lowest).
Fot. ourworldindata.org
The Swedish road in the COVID-19 pandemic. What actions have been taken?
When with the spread of the coronavirus, individual countries closed almost all social activities. Meanwhile, the Swedish government has urged citizens to stay home if they have any symptoms of the disease, to keep their distance inside and out, and to wash their hands. Elderly and sick people were advised to avoid any contact. Here are some examples of other actions taken to combat the pandemic:
Public gatherings of over 500 people were forbidden, then this limit was reduced to 50 (until November 1, 2020). From November 24, 2020, a ban on organizing events of more than eight people was introduced.
In order to ease the burden on primary care, the government has allowed sick leave to be avoided if symptoms are present.
The gastronomy functioned all the time; however, it could only be used to eat or drink at the table. It was forbidden to serve alcohol after hours. 22, then after twenty.
From March 31 to October 1, 2020, visiting elderly people in nursing homes was banned.
Remote teaching was recommended in college, then also in schools for students over 16 years of age. Periodic distance learning was introduced in Stockholm schools also for students aged 13-15. In general, however, children and young people attended school throughout the pandemic.
The sanitary authorities in Sweden, after reviewing the available studies, concluded that the masks were not an effective means of blocking the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and therefore there was practically no obligation to wear them (for some time, the obligation to wear masks in public transport during rush hours was introduced) .
Remote work was encouraged.
The hospital base was expanded rapidly.
The Swedish model of fighting a pandemic. What were the results?
The average life expectancy in Sweden in 2020 decreased by 0,8 years (in Poland it was 1,4 years).
By March 2021, Sweden had a COVID-19 death rate higher than the European average, due to the very high death rate during the first wave of the 2019 pandemic. It should also be remembered that by June 2020, almost half (47%) of deaths due to COVID-19 related to nursing home residents, and another quarter – to elderly people professionally cared for in their own homes or apartments. In addition, higher mortality rates have been observed among migrant backgrounds, especially those born in African and Middle Eastern countries.
Between March and December 2020, the number of the so-called redundant deaths (all-cause deaths above that expected in a given year based on past trends and data) were lower in Sweden than registered COVID-19 deaths. According to the authors of the report, this means that the number of deaths due to causes other than COVID-19 has decreased (unfortunately this was not the case in Poland).
Moreover, the publication emphasizes that the excess death rate in Sweden was lower than the European average. While Sweden was ninth in the COVID-2020 death rate in 19, it came in 19th in terms of the excess death rate. In the same period, the excess death rate in Poland was among the highest in Europe (80 excess deaths between March and December 2020, with half the death rate from COVID-19).
By the end of August 2021, over 55 percent. eligible for vaccination against COVID-19 received the vaccine – it was above the then European average (in Poland – less than 50%). Today, Sweden is one of the most “vaccinated” societies in Europe. As vaccination coverage has risen, death rates from COVID-19 have decreased.
Sweden significantly increased its health care spending during the pandemic, and another increase (by about 10%) is expected in 2021. Substantial money has been allocated to training medical personnel, including those working in nursing homes.
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
The COVID-19 pandemic continues. Too early for final conclusions
The authors of the report argue that even in a pandemic, the burden of incidence and mortality from non-communicable diseases cannot be overlooked. In 2018, twice as many people died from cancer in Sweden than from COVID-19 in 2020. Therefore, the Swedish government decided that oncology will continue to be a priority in 2019-2020. As a result – according to preliminary data for 2020 – Sweden is one of the few countries in Europe where cancer treatment has not been disrupted during the pandemic and there has been no increase in mortality from oncological diseases, although early detection programs have been disrupted.
A study conducted between February and March 2021 showed a large increase in the rate of unmet health needs (difficulties in accessing care). 1,4 percent Swedes declared before the pandemic that they could not meet any health needs (4,2% in Poland), during the pandemic – 16%. (in Poland, 28 percent).
The pandemic is not over yet, so it is too early to draw any final conclusions. It is also known that the assessment of the anti -andemic activities to date in Sweden is to be prepared by local independent experts in February 2022.
Zdrowie.pap / Justyna Wojteczek
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