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A new report from the National Institute on the Socio-economic Impact of Disease and Systemic Risk (SYRI) highlights that the health status of the Czech population remains significantly below the European Union average.
The SYRI report showed that despite 20 years of EU membership, Czech health standards still lag behind the EU average. For example, life expectancy at birth in the Czech Republic has increased by almost four years to 79.1 years since joining the EU. However, the difference with the European average remains virtually unchanged, and over the past 20 years the average life expectancy across the EU has increased to her 80.7 years. Meanwhile, the death rate from preventable and treatable causes in the Czech Republic is a quarter higher than the EU average.
SYRI explains these results by pointing to the typical unhealthy Czech lifestyle. “Even though life expectancy has increased in the Czech Republic over the past 20 years, it has not been enough to compensate for the difference and it still lags behind the EU average,” researcher Dagmar Žurova said. “We can ask for explanations for this fact both in the past and in the present. From the mid-1960s we started to fall behind the European average, and nothing has changed in the last 20 years.”
The main factors are high levels of alcohol consumption, smoking, unhealthy diet, and lack of physical activity. According to current data, almost half of the deaths in the Czech Republic in 2019 can be attributed to at least one of these behavioral risk factors.
Alcohol consumption in particular is one of the most important risk factors, the highest in the European Union, and obesity rates are also higher than the EU average. As a result, the Czech population has a high prevalence of several chronic diseases and a high overall health vulnerability, as the COVID-19 crisis has shown.
Therefore, preventive measures and promoting a healthy lifestyle are important recommendations suggested by experts. SYRI researchers say that in addition to vaccinations, preventive and screening tests, a healthy diet and regular physical activity are important.
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Despite the overall situation being below the EU average, the majority of Czech adults consider themselves to be in good health. In a 2022 survey, more than two-thirds (68%) of Czechs said their health was good or very good, which is comparable to the EU average.
However, there are significant differences in responses based on individuals’ income and educational groups, which deeply influence lifestyle, particularly smoking and physical activity levels.
SYRI is an institute of Masaryk University, Charles University and the Czech Academy of Sciences with the aim of providing data, independent analysis and recommendations on social issues, especially those related to unexpected crises like the coronavirus. A scientific hub that brings together experts from across the world. Whether it’s the pandemic or the war in Ukraine, or long-term threats like climate change, inflation, and rising socio-economic inequality.
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