Breast cancer death rate falls by 19% in past decade

There has been a decline of almost 19% in the death rate from breast cancer over the last decade, figures show.

The death rate for cancer fell by 11% since 2003, with a 4% decline occurring in the last two years.

Overall, life expectancy in Ireland increased by a full four years since the year 2000 and is higher than the EU average throughout the last decade.

Life expectancy can also be expressed as years lived in good health and, while overall life expectancy is close to the EU average for men and women over the age of 65, Ireland exceeds the EU average on the healthy life years measure.

The overall mortality rate has reduced by 22% in the last decade, according to the statistics detailed in a 10-year study of health trends in this country from the Department of Health.

Over the last two years, the overall death rate decreased by around 1.6%.

Mortality rates from circulatory system diseases fell by 35% between 2003 and 2012.

Mortality from circulatory system diseases is now virtually the same as cancer. Ten years ago it was 35% higher.

Both cancer and circulatory system diseases accounted for 62% of all deaths registered in 2012.

Transport accident mortality has fallen by 50% in the past decade and infant mortality by 34%

Health Minister, Dr James Reilly, welcomed the Department of Health’s document, Health in Ireland: Key Trends 2013, which chronicles the changing nature of Irish health over the past decade.

“Overall, the picture that emerges is of continuing progress, but at a reduced rate, set in a context of very significant financial constraints,” he said.

According to the report, available on the department’s website, the number of people over the age of 65 is increasing by 20,000 every year and will more than double over the next 30 year.

The population of those aged 65 years and over has been increasing at a faster rate than that of other EU countries.

The proportion of those aged 85 and over in long stay care has increased by 16% over the last decade, with all other age groups over 70 showing declines over the same period.

The number of people with a medical card increased by 60% over the past decade and by over 9% between 2011 and 2012.

Vital stats

* The number of people in treatment for problem drug use increased by 45% between 2004 and 2012.

* Nurses make up the largest grade category in the public health service at 34% of total staff.

* Death rates from suicide are down 10% since 2003 and have decreased by almost 9% in the last two years.

* Psychiatric hospital admissions have fallen by 21% over the last decade.

* Foster care rates increased from 80% in 2003 to 92% in 2012.