Heart disease rates highest in Glasgow, new study
People in Glasgow are four times more likely to die from heart disease than those in some other regions, a charity has said.
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) said that there was an “unacceptable” divide in the heart health of the nation with the latest figures showing “shocking inequalities” in the number of deaths from heart and circulatory disease.
The BHF has released a list of the UK locations with the highest and lowest death rates for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
It found that Glaswegians were four times as likely to die prematurely from heart and circulatory disease than people living in Hart, Hampshire.
In Glasgow the 144 people out of every 100,000 under the age of 75 prematurely die from CVD, while only 40 out of every 100,000 in Hart prematurely die because of such problems.
Other places listed as having high death rates include Manchester, Blackpool, Dundee and Inverclyde, the charity found
On the other end of the scale, parts of Hampshire, Surrey and Cambridgeshire have the lowest death rates from CVD in under 75s.
Across the UK around 100 people under the age of 75 die from CVD every day. It accounts for more than one in four of all UK deaths, the charity said.
“These figures are a stark reminder of the unacceptable number of people that lose their lives to cardiovascular disease every year, often increased by the place they live,” said BHF chief executive Simon Gillespie.
“There is still so much more we need to do. We’ve made huge progress in the fight against cardiovascular disease, with 70% of heart attack victims now surviving to go home to their families.
“With the help of our supporters, we’ll increase investment and accelerate our world-class research that could save the lives of more people that die prematurely. We remain determined to win the fight against cardiovascular disease, improving the lives of the seven million people living with it and saving those that currently die too young.”
In its new strategy the charity has said the key to preventing more premature deaths is to make sure research advancements go further and faster.
