Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Jun 2001

Vol. 539 No. 3

Written Answers. - Heart Disease.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

149 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the extent to which comparisons have been made between the incidences of heart disease here and each of the other European Union member states, with particular reference to the number of cases per thousand of the population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19506/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

151 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Health and Children the comparisons which have been drawn between Ireland and other European Union member states regarding the incidence of cardiovascular diseases; the cause or causes for higher disease levels here; the reasons for the contributory factors for the reduced levels in the European Union member states with the lowest levels in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19508/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin):

I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 151 together.

Age-standardised mortality rates for EU countries are provided by the World Health Organisation and the last year for which an EU average rate is available is 1997. Table 1 below sets out the rates per 100,000 population for Ischaemic heart disease. Despite significant declines in recent years, mortality rates for heart disease remain high in Ireland compared to the EU average.

The report of the cardiovascular health strategy group, Building Healthier Hearts, was launched in July 1999. That report, which contains 211 recommendations, is designed to implement the strategy in a planned and structured manner over a five year period. As a measure of the Government's commitment to the implementation of this report, structures were put in place at national, regional and local level to drive the implementation process. The Department of Health and Children has set a medium term objective to bring our levels of premature deaths from heart disease in line with the EU average at a minimum and a long-term objective of reducing our rates to those of the best performers in the EU.

Table 1

Heart Disease: Age-Standardised Mortality Rates

Per 100,000 Population for Ireland and EU Average, 1993 to 1997.

Heart Disease

Year	Country	All Circulatory SystemDisease	Ischaemic Heart Disease	Stroke
1993	IrelandEU Average	401.3306.0	225.2124.9	82.680.4
1994	IrelandEU Average	386.8291.0	218.4118.0	77.776.8
1995	IrelandEU Average	385.4286.5	217.2116.9	76.074.0
1996	IrelandEU Average	368.6279.0	205.0113.2	74.671.4
1997	IrelandEU Average	351.3270.1	194.4109.4	69.468.7

Note:Figures for Ireland for 1997 are provisional.

Source:Central Statistics Office and Health for All Database, World Health Organisation.