27/01/2009
New statistics mask true burden of
the UK’s biggest killer
In response to the Health Profile of England
2008 statistics released today (Tuesday 27 January) by the
Department of Health, Betty McBride, Director of Policy and
Communications at the British Heart Foundation said:
"These new statistics reveal that the battle
against heart disease is far from won.
"These statistics paint a picture in which the UK suffers a
higher premature heart and circulatory disease
death rate than most Western Europe countries, and has the highest
rates of obesity.
“Behind the statistics is a grim fact - that
people living in deprived areas of the UK still more likely to
suffer an early death from heart disease (1).
“The figures also fail to capture the burden
carried by the 2.6 million people living with
heart disease in the UK today.
"Despite the enormous gravity of these threats, we're still
waiting for the Government to confirm it will have a
strategy to tackle heart disease in England.
Without a new plan to treat heart disease, how can we hope to
tackle Britain’s biggest killer?”
For more information please contact the BHF press office on 020
7554 0164 or 07764 290381 (out of hours) or email newsdesk@bhf.org.uk
(1) BHF Coronary Heart Disease Statistics 2008. PDF available on
request.
- The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the nation’s heart
charity, dedicated to saving lives through pioneering research,
patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital
information. But we urgently need help. We rely on donations of
time and money to continue our life-saving work. Because together
we can beat heart disease.
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