Irish people aged 45 to 74 experience a high death rate from heart attack compared with those living in other western European states, research published this morning suggests.
A study of regional variations in cardiovascular mortality in Europe places the Republic and Northern Ireland 18th and 19th in a league table of standardised mortality rates for coronary heart disease among 45- to 74-year-olds. While France, Portugal, Italy and Spain enjoy the lowest death rates from heart attack, the former Soviet bloc countries have the poorest record for cardiovascular mortality.
However, the data refers to 2000 and recent figures from the OECD for 2004 suggest mortality from heart disease on the island of Ireland has improved since then. And the latest European figures on deaths from stroke and heart attacks, due to be published next week, are expected to show a further improvement in mortality among Irish people.
Today's research, published in the European Heart Journal, concentrated on 45- to 74-year-olds because, according to the authors, mortality in younger age groups is very low. France, with a standardised mortality rate (SMR) of 65 per 100,000 population, had the lowest death rate from coronary heart disease. The Republic had an SMR of 223 per 100,000, while Northern Ireland came next with an SMR of 227.
Latvia, with an SMR for coronary heart disease in 45- to 74-year-olds of 461 per 100,000, had the highest death rate from heart attacks among the 30 European countries studied.
The lead author of the study, Dr Jacqueline Muller-Nordhorn, said mortality rates for coronary heart disease were lower in countries to the south and west of Europe, while mortality from stroke was reduced in the centre of western Europe.
"There needs to be further research into the underlying reasons for observed differences in cardiovascular mortality in Europe, both between and within countries. Prevention strategies could then focus on specific risk factors." Asked to comment on the figures, Dr Brian Maurer, medical director of the Irish Heart Foundation said that, historically, figures for death from heart disease and stroke for the Republic, Northern Ireland and Scotland have been high compared with other states in Europe. "But the reduction in death rates over the last two decades can be expected to continue and the statistics for 2004 suggest the situation has improved considerably compared with the data on which this study has been based."
Dr Muller-Nordhorn said a number of risk factors could account for the large variations in mortality between countries. These included hypertension, diabetes, income, and employment status. Psychosocial factors such as stress, or the prevalence of depression were also significant. Lifestyle variables such as physical activity, smoking and diet, environmental factors or the quality of medical care in each state also played an important role.
Cardiovascular disease is estimated to cost the EU some €169 billion a year.