This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Fall in death rate from coronary heart disease
30/08/2002
New statistics showing a fall in the death rate from
coronary heart disease have been welcomed by the
Executive.
Deputy Health Minister Mary Mulligan said:
"It is encouraging that we are making progress in
cutting the appalling devastation on Scottish families
caused by premature death from heart disease.
"There are signs that we are taking on messages of
stopping smoking, switching from fatty foods to a healthier
diet and taking more exercise. We are also making good
progress in reducing waiting times for bypass
operations."
Figures released by the NHS Information and Statistics
Division (ISD) show deaths from coronary heart disease fell
by 4 per cent to 11,914 in 2001 compared to the previous
year.
In 1993 there were 16,925 deaths from CHD. Incidence
also fell by 3.4 per cent among men and 6.2 per cent in
women between 1999 and 2000.
Numbers of bypass and angioplasty operations increased
from 5,117 in 2000-01 to 5,219 in 2001-02.
Waiting times for bypass surgery fell between March 1999
and March 2002 from 152 days to 50 days.
Waiting times for angioplasty increased from 31 to 41
days in the same period.
Separate ISD figures published today show one in three
people in Scotland are at risk of getting cancer in their
lifetime and around 1% of Scottish women are currently
living with a diagnosis of breast cancer.
Men have a one in eight risk and women a one in seven
risk of contracting cancer before they reach 65.
Mrs Mulligan said:
"The figures emphasise the sheer scale of the problems
we face. We are determined to tackle these head on both in
improving treatment for cancer and heart disease and in a
range of prevention programmes."
The Executive is launching a national strategy for CHD
and stroke this autumn and is already investing an
additional £60 million in cancer services.
"At the same time, there is so much people can do for
themselves in choosing healthier lifestyles. As the First
Minister emphasised this week, we are committing
significant resources to support this process and improve
the Scottish diet.
"We are going in the right direction but there is a long
haul ahead before we can improve our position as among the
worst in Europe for cancer and heart disease," Mrs Mulligan
said.