According to an analysis conducted by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), mortality from heart and circulatory diseases in individuals under 75 years of age has witnessed a sustained rise for the first time in 50 years.
BHF's analysis of the latest national health statistics reveal an upward trend in mortality in the UK since 2014, with 42,384 individuals aged <75 years dying from conditions including myocardial infarction and stroke in 2017 vs 41,042 deaths in 2014. A four per cent increase in mortality from heart and circulatory diseases in individuals aged <65 years has also been seen in the last five years.
Between 2012 and 2017, the rates of premature mortality from heart and circulatory disease in the UK declined by a mere nine per cent, compared with a decline of 25 per cent during 2007-2012. In 2017, individuals aged <75 years accounted for 28 per cent of all heart and circulatory disease deaths, compared with 26 per cent in 2012.
Simon Gillespie, the Chief Executive of BHF, said: "We need to work in partnership with governments, the NHS and medical research community to increase research investment and accelerate innovative approaches to diagnose and support the millions of people at risk of a heart attack or stroke."
