Erfurt. Despite the population decline, Thuringia’s hospitals will continue to perform well in the future, according to a study. By 2042, experts from the State Statistical Office predict a slight decline in the number of patients admitted to hospitals by 1.4 percent to 495,600 compared to 2022. The population will therefore decrease by 9.5 percent over the same period.
Especially elderly patients
As the population ages, the proportion of elderly patients in particular is likely to increase in the future. This is also expected to lead to an increase in diseases that primarily affect the elderly. The study predicts a 3.2% increase in cardiovascular diseases. A decline is assumed for tumours or diseases of the musculoskeletal system. For example, more cancer treatments are now being carried out on an outpatient basis.
The state secretariat emphasizes that factors such as technical progress or changes in the probability of death from individual diagnoses were not included in the calculations. In addition, a constant demand for medical care at the hospital was assumed. (dpa)