West Still Top of Heart Death Rates

THE west of Scotland has continued to top heart disease death rates despite a (pounds) 40million scheme to cut the death toll.

Health minister Andy Kerr says a strategy to cut premature deaths from heart disease has seen a massive reduction in mortality across the country.

But health boards in the west still see many more deaths than the national average.

Glasgow has followed the national trend that has seen deaths among men and women drop over the past 10 years but still has a long way to go to reach the national rates.

Last year 2449 people in the city died from heart disease, including almost 1300 from heart attacks alone.

The total death rate is 201 per 100,000 population. The national figure is just 185.

And the number of men dying from heart disease in Argyll and Clyde actually rose last year to more than 1300 giving a rate of 205.4.

Lanarkshire tops the death toll league with a rate of 205.5 people.

Today Mr Kerr blamed high smoking rates for the continuing problem and warned: “Scotland has a 35-a-day a habit and we’ve got to start kicking it.

“Every day 35 people a day die from tobacco-related diseases such as heart disease.”

A spokeswoman for NHS Greater Glasgow stressed city figures had improved and added: “Mortality rates are dropping and heart patients are living longer, healthier lives.”