'Heart attack capital of the world' sees toll cut by 18%

Published on Wednesday 6 May 2009 22:02

THE number of Scots struck down by heart attacks has dropped by more than 1,500 in five years, figures revealed yesterday.

In 2004, 8,894 people in Scotland were admitted to hospital as an emergency after a heart attack. Last year's figure was 7,326 – down almost 18 per cent.

There were large falls in areas such as Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Lanarkshire and Tayside.

The Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures following a parliamentary question, said the fall in heart attacks was welcome, but obesity in children needed to be tackled to prevent a rise in ill-health in the future.

Between 2004 and 2008, heart attack admissions in men fell 16.3 per cent from 5,454 to 4,563. In women, admissions dropped 19.6 per cent from 3,440 to 2,763.

It is thought that increasing use of statins – cholesterol lowering drugs – and better management of heart problems has helped reduce heart attacks.

The figures showed heart attack admissions in Greater Glasgow and Clyde fell 573 from 2,154 to 1,581 in five years. In Tayside, they fell 366 from 822 to 456.

But in some regions, admissions increased. In Borders, they went up from 204 in 2004 to 262. Highland also saw numbers rise from 565 to 578.

Lib Dem health spokesman Ross Finnie said the figures showed some remarkable improvements in areas where heart disease was traditionally a big killer. He praised NHS staff for their hard work.

But he called on the SNP government not to "squander" the improvement.

"These figures will help reverse our reputation as the sick man of Europe," Mr Finnie said.

"But, if they are to become a positive trend, then the SNP has to get serious about tackling the major causes of heart disease in the next generation. This means focusing on the ticking timebomb of childhood obesity."

He said a Lib Dem suggestion that children should do the equivalent of an hour's exercise a day should be adopted.

David Clark, chief executive of Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, welcomed the figures.

"Scotland is getting rid of its reputation as the heart attack capital of the world," he said.

"We now have a national network of rapid-access chest pain clinics and labs preventing heart attacks before they happen. More people are also on cholesterol-lowering drugs and anti-hypertensives."

Mr Clark said lifestyle changes, such as stopping smoking and taking more exercise, were also having an impact.

Ben McKendrick, of British Heart Foundation Scotland, warned against complacency. "Continued efforts are needed in prevention, especially in areas like tobacco control," he said.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "We are determined to build a culture of good health for the next generation and turn the tables on long-term social ills like obesity.

"That's why we introduced our Active Schools programme, which is bringing in popular activities, including dance and cheerleading, and getting kids excited about being active."