Deaths from heart attacks halved in a decade
Thursday, 26 January 2012 10:21
A recent study, published in the British Medical Journal, says that the death rate from heart attacks in England was halved between 2002 and 2010.
The study, conducted by Oxford University, found that fewer heart attacks occurred during this period and, out of those which did occur, fewer were fatal.
The greatest decline was in men and women aged 65-74 and is attributed to better management of health factors such as smoking, cholesterol and blood pressure. Better diets and a reduction in the number of people who smoke, thought to be linked to the ban on smoking in public buildings, are thought to be important for reducing the incidence of heart attacks. There was also a decrease in the fatality rates of heart attacks which was attributed to better hospital treatment and management of patients.
However, it was highlighted that far too many people still die from a cardiac arrest before they reach the hospital or receive any medical attention.
Professor Weissberg of the British Heart Foundation said that: "This impressive fall in death rates is due partly to prevention of heart attacks by better management of risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure and cholesterol and due partly to better treatment of heart attack patients when they reach hospital.
But far too many heart attack victims still die from a cardiac arrest before medical help arrives. Many of these deaths could be prevented by rapid cardiopulmonary resuscitation."
The study also noted that the decreased rate was least noticeable in younger age groups, primarily 30-54. This was because of an increased rate of diabetes and obesity which can cause heart problems.