Ireland scores well on stroke deaths

A major new report has shown that Ireland has the seventh highest death rate for coronary heart disease (CHD) in men in a table of 16 European countries. However, we have the  the lowest rate of stroke deaths in women.

Top of the list for male CHD death rates is Hungary, with 105 deaths per 100,000 population, while Ireland has a rate of 39 per 100,000.

Ireland is joint sixth in the European list for CHD death rates among women, with Hungary again in first place with he highest rates of 28 per 100,000.

The report shows that Italy, the Netherlands and France have the lowest CHD death rates among men and Slovenia, France and Iceland have the lowest rates among women.

Estonia, the report shows, has the highest death rate from stroke in men among the 16 European countries at 41 per 100,000, while it also has the highest mortality rate for stroke in women, at 16 per 100,000.

Ireland scores relatively well for male stroke deaths, at 8 per 100,000, and is ranked joint third lowest out of 16 in the European table for male stroke deaths, and joint lowest for female stroke deaths of the 16.

On risk factor levels for heart disease, Ireland had the joint third lowest level of smoking rates in the 16 countries among men but had the joint fifth highest rate of smoking in women.

The report showed that Ireland scored poorly among European countries in terms of fruit and vegetable availability and in terms of moderate physical exercise activity levels.

On legislation relating to cardiovascular disease in the 16 countries, the report found that each country, including Ireland, reported some type of legislation covering public health, tobacco control and food. All countries except Greece had legislation on alcohol control.

Eleven of the 16 European countries studied had legislation relating to the promotion of physical activity. However, Ireland was not one of the 16.

The report shows a link to heart disease rates and national prevention policies.

The report was published by the EuroHeart project, which was jointly set up by the European Society of Cardiology and the European Heart Network. Membership of the project team included the Irish Heart
Foundation (www.irishheart.ie).

Visit irishhealth.com's Heart Disease Clinic here

[Posted: Thu 10/09/2009]