Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 18 Feb 1992

Vol. 415 No. 8

Written Answers. - Mortality Statistics.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

123 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Health if he will outline, (a) the most common causes of death in Ireland over the last ten years, (b) whether there is a noticeable increase in any particular cause and (c) the research which is being carried out in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

The most common causes of death in Ireland during the last ten years have been diseases of the cardiovascular system and cancer. Together they accounted for about two-thirds of all deaths in this country since 1981. Details of the number of deaths from these causes, and the rate per 100,000 population, are set out in a table which I will circulate in the Official Report.

Deaths by Principal Causes: Numbers and Rates per 100,000 total population 1981-1990.

Year	Diseases of Circulatory System	Cancer
No. of Deaths	Rate (Per 100,000 population	No. of Deaths	Rate (Per 100,000 population)
1981	16,660	483.8	6,220	180.6
1982	16,289	467.7	6,332	181.8
1983	16,560	472.1	6,471	184.5
1984	15,917	451.0	6,666	188.9
1985	16,492	465.9	6,689	189.0
1986	16,403	463.3	6,890	194.6
1987	15,095	426.1	6,966	196.6
1988	14,952	422.6	7,154	202.2
1989*	14,600	415.4	7,194	204.7
1990*	14,491	413.7	7,143	203.9

* Provisional Figures.

Source: Central Statistics OfficeReports on Vital Statistics, 1981-1990.

The rate of deaths from cancer rose from 180.6 per 100,000 population in 1981 to 204.7 in 1989, falling to 203.9 in 1990. Over the same period, the rate of deaths from diseases of the circulatory system, including heart disease, ranged between 483.8 per 100,000 population in 1981 and 413.7 in 1990, falling substantially in the years since 1986.

A reply to the Deputy of 26 November 1991 (Official Report Volume 413, columns 926-928) details the types of and funding allocated to cancer research for selected recent years.

The Health Research Board have allocated a total of £54,000 to date in 1992 for research into cardiovascular disease, and expects to make further grants in this area later in the year. It is assisting eight such studies at present — three in Trinity College, Dublin, two in University College, Dublin and one each at the Mater Private Hospital, St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and the Royal College of Surgeons.

In addition to research, a substantial emphasis has been placed on prevention and reduction of cardiovascular disease. The Kilkenny health project, for example, is a pilot health promotion research and demonstration project aimed at reducing the risk of heart disease. The results of the project, initiated in 1985, are currently being evaluated.