In a troubling revelation, England is facing its highest level of premature deaths due to heart and circulatory diseases in over a decade. The year 2022 witnessed more than 39,000 individuals succumbing to cardiovascular conditions such as heart attacks, coronary heart disease, and stroke before reaching the age of 75. This alarming figure translates to an average of 750 deaths each week, marking a significant and concerning rise to levels not seen since 2008.
This regressive trend is further illuminated by age-standardised premature death rates, which adjust for changes in population size and demographics. There was a period of decline in both the number and rate of these premature deaths up until 2012, attributed to the advancements in medical and scientific research. However, the past decade has seen a stark reversal, with premature death rates from cardiovascular disease in England increasing for three consecutive years, a phenomenon not observed in nearly six decades.
Heart and Circulatory Diseases: A Comprehensive Overview
Heart and circulatory diseases, collectively known as Cardiovascular Disease (CVD), encompass a wide range of conditions affecting the heart and circulation system. These conditions can be inherited, present from birth, or develop over time, posing a significant health challenge in the UK and around the world. In this article, we delve into the statistics, impact, and cost of CVD in the United Kingdom, shedding light on a major public health concern.
Prevalence of Heart and Circulatory Diseases: A Growing Concern
As of the latest available data, there are approximately 7.6 million individuals in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases. This figure is particularly concerning, considering the country’s aging population and improved survival rates following CVD events, which could potentially lead to a further increase in the number of cases.
Breaking down the numbers, this condition affects both genders, with around 4 million males and 3.6 million females currently living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK. The startling fact is that more than half of the UK population is estimated to develop some form of heart or circulatory condition during their lifetime.
Comparing the prevalence of CVD with other major health issues, it becomes evident that heart and circulatory diseases significantly outweigh the combined numbers of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, affecting approximately twice as many individuals. This underscores the urgency of addressing this pervasive health concern.
The Lethal Impact of Heart and Circulatory Diseases
Heart and circulatory diseases are responsible for a staggering 27% of all deaths in the UK. This equates to more than 170,000 fatalities annually, or a harrowing 480 deaths each day, translating to one life lost every three minutes. Shockingly, nearly 49,000 individuals under the age of 75 succumb to heart and circulatory diseases each year, emphasizing the severity of the issue.

In a hopeful trajectory, since the establishment of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the annual number of deaths attributable to heart and circulatory diseases in the UK has fallen by nearly half. In 1961, these diseases claimed the lives of over 320,000 individuals, making up over half of all deaths in the country. The significant decline in death rates is a testament to advancements in medical science and improved healthcare access.
Regional Disparities in Heart and Circulatory Disease
When examining death rates, it is crucial to consider the age structure of local populations to gain a clear understanding of the disparities across regions in the UK. Since 1961, the UK’s age-standardized death rate from heart and circulatory diseases has remarkably decreased by three-quarters. This decline has been more rapid than the actual number of deaths due to the overall increase in life expectancy.
However, the regional differences are stark. The premature (under 75) CVD death rate for Glasgow, Scotland stands at a concerning 136 per 100,000 people, as of 2019/21. This figure is more than three times higher than that of Rutland in the East Midlands, where the rate is 37 per 100,000 individuals. Early deaths from heart and circulatory diseases are most prevalent in the north of England, central Scotland, and the south of Wales, but they are notably lower in the south of England.
Economic Burden of Heart and Circulatory Diseases
Apart from the human toll, heart and circulatory diseases impose a substantial economic burden on the UK. Healthcare costs associated with these conditions are estimated to be approximately £10 billion annually. Moreover, the overall cost to the UK economy, which includes premature death, disability, and informal costs, is estimated to reach an astounding £25 billion each year.
Identifying the Underlying Causes
The reasons behind this disturbing trend are multifaceted. An increasingly unhealthy population, growing health disparities, and sustained pressure on the National Health Service (NHS) have been identified as contributing factors. The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftereffects on individuals with cardiovascular conditions have exacerbated the situation. Additionally, there has been a notable absence of effective government intervention to tackle the root causes of heart disease and stroke, including high obesity rates which have remained persistently elevated over the last decade.
Calling for Immediate Action
To reverse this downward spiral, a tripartite strategy focusing on improved prevention of heart disease and stroke, prioritization of heart care within the NHS, and a boost in cardiovascular research to discover innovative treatments and cures is urgently needed. Dr. Charmaine Griffiths, the Chief Executive, emphasizes the critical nature of this situation, describing the statistics as a “heartbreaking picture” of lost progress despite the historical advances in reducing cardiovascular mortality.
The Realities of the Healthcare Crisis
The rise in premature death rates since 2020, with the latest figures indicating the highest rate since 2011, underscores a significant deceleration in progress since 2012. From 2012 to 2019, the rate of improvement plummeted to just an 11% reduction in premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases, a stark contrast to the 33% reduction witnessed between 2005 and 2012.
The Socioeconomic Divide and Its Impact
The disparity in health outcomes has widened considerably since 2010, with the most deprived communities in England suffering from deteriorating health conditions and an uptick in cardiovascular disease rates. This is compounded by a lack of concerted effort to address cardiovascular risk factors, leaving millions with undiagnosed conditions like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. The prevalence of overweight and obesity adds to the burgeoning health crisis.
The Call for Urgent Intervention
Dr. Sonya Babu-Narayan, Associate Medical Director and Consultant Cardiologist, highlights the severity of the current heart care crisis as the “worst in living memory.” The entire spectrum of heart care, from prevention and diagnosis to treatment, recovery, and research, is in dire need of revitalization. The failure to sustain progress in reducing early cardiovascular mortality is a tragic loss, necessitating immediate and decisive action.
Research as a Beacon of Hope
Amidst this crisis, research remains a beacon of hope, with the potential to pioneer new methodologies for preventing, diagnosing, and treating heart and circulatory diseases. Past research funded has already yielded lifesaving breakthroughs, including artificial intelligence applications in heart scans and a deeper understanding of heart attack mechanisms. However, for the UK to remain at the forefront of these discoveries, a robust research and development ecosystem is essential.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD): The Silent Killer
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) stands as the most prevalent form of heart and circulatory disease, striking the heart’s very core. CHD manifests when coronary arteries become narrowed due to the accumulation of atheroma, a fatty substance within their walls. The resulting discomfort is termed angina, and in more severe cases, a complete blockage leads to a myocardial infarction or a heart attack.
Key statistics reveal the magnitude of the problem:
- CHD is a leading cause of death in the UK and the most common cause of premature death.
- Globally, it held the dubious distinction of being the leading cause of death in 2019.
- In the UK, CHD claims approximately 68,000 lives each year, translating to an average of 190 people per day, or one fatality approximately every eight minutes.
- A stark gender divide exists, with one in eight men and one in 14 women succumbing to coronary heart disease. Astonishingly, CHD kills more women prematurely than breast cancer, even before their 75th birthday.
- Alarmingly, around 26,000 individuals under the age of 75 in the UK fall victim to CHD annually.
Regional disparities are evident, with the highest CHD death rates observed in Scotland and the north of England. However, a ray of hope shines through these grim statistics: since the establishment of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), the annual number of CHD deaths in the UK has declined by more than half.
Currently, there are approximately 2.3 million individuals in the UK living with CHD, comprising roughly 1.5 million men and 830,000 women.
Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction, MI): A Transformation in Survival Rates
The UK experiences roughly 100,000 hospital admissions each year due to heart attacks, equating to 290 admissions daily or one every five minutes. The landscape of heart attacks has dramatically shifted over the years. In the 1960s, over 70% of heart attacks in the UK were fatal, but today, more than 70% of individuals not only survive but also recover from these life-threatening events.
It is estimated that approximately 1.4 million individuals currently residing in the UK have survived a heart attack, with one million men and 380,000 women among their ranks.
Atrial Fibrillation (AF): A Common Cause of Stroke
Atrial fibrillation, a form of abnormal heart rhythm known as arrhythmia, is a major contributor to strokes. Over 1.5 million people in the UK have received a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, although a significant portion remains inadequately treated. Alarmingly, an estimated 270,000 individuals aged over 65 in the UK have undiagnosed, or “silent,” atrial fibrillation.
Heart Failure: A Struggle to Pump Blood Efficiently
Heart failure, characterized by the heart’s inability to efficiently pump blood, often occurs when the heart muscle is damaged, such as after a heart attack. Shockingly, more than one million individuals in the UK are estimated to have heart failure. Approximately 200,000 new heart failure diagnoses are made each year, with around 730,000 individuals in the UK listed on their General Practitioner’s (GP) heart failure register. Intriguingly, 80% of heart failure diagnoses in England are made in hospitals, despite 40% of patients showing symptoms that should have prompted earlier assessment.
Stroke (Cerebrovascular Disease; CBVD): A Devastating Brain Attack
A stroke, which transpires when blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted, causes brain cell damage. A transient ischaemic attack (TIA), often termed a “mini stroke,” results from a temporary disruption in blood supply to the brain.
Key stroke statistics paint a grim picture:
- Stroke is a leading cause of death in the UK, accounting for around 34,000 annual fatalities.
- Over 100,000 strokes occur in the UK each year, equating to a stroke every five minutes.
- Astonishingly, about 1.4 million individuals residing in the UK have survived a stroke or TIA.
- Disturbingly, one in four strokes in the UK affects individuals of working age, underscoring its pervasive impact.
- Stroke stands as the primary cause of severe disability in the UK.
Vascular Dementia: The Silent Struggle in the Brain
Vascular dementia emerges when blood supply to a specific brain area is compromised, leading to inadequate oxygen and nutrient delivery, resulting in symptoms such as concentration difficulties and personality changes.
Key facts on vascular dementia include:
- Vascular dementia is responsible for approximately 14,000 deaths annually in the UK, with the actual numbers potentially higher due to difficulties in diagnosing different types of dementia.
- It ranks as the second most common form of dementia, affecting up to one in five cases.
- An estimated 150,000 people in the UK grapple with vascular dementia.
Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA): A Race Against Time
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) represents a dire medical emergency where the heart suddenly ceases to pump blood, leading to swift and certain death without immediate intervention. The statistics surrounding OHCA are sobering:
- More than 30,000 cases of OHCA occur annually in the UK, highlighting the scale of this crisis.
- The overall survival rate in the UK is alarmingly less than one in ten.
- Each minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation slashes the chances of survival by up to ten percent.
- Early administration of CPR and defibrillation can more than double the odds of survival.
- Public-access defibrillators (PADs), a critical tool in the chain of survival, are employed in less than ten percent of OHCA cases.
The Chain of Survival, a series of crucial steps, plays a pivotal role in maximizing the likelihood of survival following a cardiac arrest.
Congenital Heart Disease: A Prenatal Challenge
Congenital heart disease refers to heart conditions or defects that take shape in the womb before a baby’s birth. The statistics pertaining to this condition are eye-opening:
- Heart defects are diagnosed in a staggering one in 150 births, averaging to 13 babies each day in the UK. Additionally, diagnoses often occur later in life, suggesting that as much as one to two percent of the population may be affected.
- These heart defects constitute the most common congenital anomaly among UK-born babies.
- Furthermore, heart disease stands as the leading cause of perinatal and infant mortality resulting from congenital anomalies.
- The establishment of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has played a vital role in improving survival rates, with over eight out of ten babies diagnosed with severe heart defects now surviving to adulthood.
Inherited (Genetic) Conditions: A Family Legacy
Inherited conditions are health disorders that can be passed down through families, impacting individuals of all ages and potentially proving life-threatening. Key insights into these conditions include:
- An estimated 340,000 individuals in the UK grapple with inherited heart conditions, encompassing hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) affecting 1 in 500 people, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/ARVC).
- There are additional conditions that increase the risk of heart disease or sudden death at a young age, including familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), affecting 1 in 250 individuals, totaling 270,000 people.
- Tragically, in the UK, at least 12 young people under the age of 35 perish each week due to undiagnosed heart conditions.
- Employing high-intensity statins can reduce cholesterol levels by half, reducing the risk of heart disease-related deaths for many individuals with FH to a safe level.
Risk Factors: The Underlying Contributors
Several risk factors significantly elevate the chances of developing heart and circulatory diseases (CVD), with each factor contributing its own set of challenges and concerns.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): A Silent Menace
- High blood pressure stands as the leading modifiable risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases in the UK.
- An estimated 30 percent of UK adults, roughly 16 million individuals, live with high blood pressure. Alarmingly, at least half of them are not receiving effective treatment.
- An additional 10.6 million people in the UK have been officially diagnosed with high blood pressure by their GP, signifying that up to 5.4 million adults could be undiagnosed.
- Furthermore, an estimated 6-8 million people in the UK live with undiagnosed or uncontrolled high blood pressure, highlighting the gravity of the issue.
Diabetes: Elevated Blood Sugar and Risk
- Diabetes, characterized by prolonged elevated blood sugar levels, significantly increases the risk of heart and circulatory diseases.
- Approximately 4.4 million UK adults have been diagnosed with diabetes, with the overall diabetic population surpassing 5 million.
- An estimated 850,000 individuals in the UK likely have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes.
- Around 90 percent of individuals diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, while the remaining 10 percent have either type 1 or less common types.
High Cholesterol: A Silent Culprit
- High blood cholesterol, particularly high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, is associated with one in four heart and circulatory disease deaths in the UK.
- It’s estimated that nearly half of UK adults live with cholesterol levels exceeding national guidelines for total cholesterol (greater than 5mmol/L).
- Individuals with heart and circulatory diseases often require even lower target cholesterol levels.
- At least 7-8 million adults in the UK currently take lipid-lowering drugs, such as statins.
Air Pollution: An Unseen Threat
- Poor air quality takes a toll on heart and circulatory health, with up to 11,000 deaths attributed to particulate matter pollution in the UK each year.
Smoking: A Deadly Habit
- At least 1 in 8 UK adults, approximately 7 million individuals, continue to smoke cigarettes.
- Smoking-related causes are responsible for an estimated 80,000 deaths in the UK annually.
- A significant portion of these deaths, roughly 15,000, can be directly attributed to heart and circulatory diseases.
Overweight/Obesity: A Growing Concern
- More than a quarter (26 percent) of UK adults struggle with obesity, and nearly two in five (38 percent) fall into the category of overweight, as defined by body-mass index (BMI).
- Around 30 percent of UK children have a BMI categorized as overweight or obese.
- In the UK, roughly 1 in 6 heart and circulatory disease deaths are linked to a high BMI.
Diet and Exercise: Building a Healthy Lifestyle
- Only about a quarter of UK adults adhere to the recommended minimum intake of five portions of fruits and vegetables per day.
- Nearly a quarter of UK adults exceed national guidelines for weekly alcohol consumption, with no safe level of alcohol consumption.
- Shockingly, more than one in three (36 percent) UK adults fail to achieve the recommended levels of physical activity, which stand at 150 minutes per week. Physical activity can reduce the risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases by as much as 35 percent.
Other Risk Factors: Unique Considerations
Other risk factors, such as impaired kidney function (renal failure), old age, gender, family history, and ethnicity, can also significantly elevate the risk of heart and circulatory diseases. These factors further underscore the multifaceted nature of the challenges facing healthcare professionals and individuals striving to reduce the burden of CVD.
Understanding the wide-ranging risk factors and challenges associated with heart and circulatory diseases is essential in crafting effective prevention and treatment strategies. Addressing these factors, reducing disparities, and promoting heart-healthy lifestyles are crucial steps towards combating these pervasive conditions and improving public health.
Conclusion
The escalation of premature cardiovascular deaths in England is a stark reminder of the complex interplay between healthcare provision, societal health trends, and the critical role of research. Addressing this crisis requires a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including the government, healthcare providers, and the research community, to implement a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing these preventable deaths. The time for action is now, to protect the heart health of the nation and prevent further loss of life to cardiovascular disease.
reference link > https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2024/january/early-heart-disease-deaths-rise-to-14-year-high#:~:text=Latest%20figures%20show%20that%20in,highest%20annual%20total%20since%202008.