Heart disease death rate falls by 50%

HEART disease death rates have been cut by more than half in the past two decades, with targets set in the 1990s for a reduction in the death rate being met.

However, better drugs and therapies are needed to ensure that those who are living with heart disease can manage the long-term conditions. The smoking ban, more defibrillators, new cardiovascular medical posts and a fourfold increase in prescribing cardiovascular medication are among the reasons for the improvement in heart death figures.

The news was confirmed by a review of progress in improving heart health and treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD), published yesterday by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Ireland: Take Heart looked at progress made by the Building Healthier Hearts programme, which has spent €72 million since 1999 on cutting Ireland’s EU-high rates of CHD.

According to the review, CHD deaths fell by 54% between 1995 and 2004.

HSE national director of population health Dr Pat Doorley said the audit showed that the health services and other agencies have “contributed significantly to a dramatic improvement in heart health” through investment in health promotion, pre-hospital and primary care as well as hospital services.

Report author Dr Siobhan Jennings said that the study emphasised the continuing challenge to ensure that Irish people enjoy best health. “Now let’s move onto the next phase of heart health improvements.”

Among the factors that have led to improvement in the country’s heart health, according to the HSE, were making smoking initiatives like the workplace ban, cessation clinics and a national Quitline.

The review also pointed to promotion of health in schools, workplaces and community; improvements in secondary prevention to improve survival for patients with heart disease; a fourfold increase in prescription of cardiovascular medication in primary care; 820 new cardiovascular posts within the health services; increased availability of defibrillators in ambulances and with GPs; and lifesaving anti-clotting treatments in most hospitals.

Meanwhile, six times more patients are availing of cardiac rehabilitation services than in 1985 — up to 4,200 patients in 2005.

Other challenges, in addition to the need for management of long-term heart disease, the twin epidemics of obesity and type-2 diabetes are also a threat to the progress being made, states the review.

“In tacking rates of cigarette smoking and increasing awareness of the role played by blood pressure must also be built upon.

“These are areas for focus by the Health Service Executive and other agencies.”

The establishment of an Expert Advisory Group to cover the area of cardiovascular health is set to help set operational policy and quality standards for the future development of services.