Cancer and heart attacks outstrip EU rates

Irish pensioners are far more likely to die from a cancer-related illness or heart attack than most other Europeans.

A comparative study of the causes of death among men and women aged 65 years and over across Europeshows Ireland has some of the highest rates of fatal cardiac arrests and cancer-related deaths in the EU.

However, the suicide rate among Irish pensioners is one of the lowest in Europe, while they are also far less likely to die as a result of an accident.