The last 5 years have been landmark years for heart disease in the UK. For the first time in my lifetime, cardiovascular disease is no longer the leading cause of death in the UK. In 2012, cardiovascular disease accounted for 28% of deaths and cancer 29%. This has continued in the last statistics available to 2015, when the figures were 27% and 25% for men and women versus 26-31% for cancer.

Rates of cardiovascular disease peaked after the second world war, when almost 50% of men died from cardiovascular disease. Interestingly the rates for women were over 50%! These have been falling since the late 70s/80s, and now are a third less for men and half of the peak rate for women.

I’ll talk next time about what has brought this about. In the meantime, have a look at the BHF and ONS statistics below if you would like more information.

https://www.bhf.org.uk/
Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2017

https://www.ons.gov.uk/
Twentieth Century Mortality Trends in England and Wales