Deaths from strokes and heart diseasedown 60%

DEATHS from strokes and hear disease in Scotland have fallen significantly in the past 15 years, figures show.

Annual heart disease statistics revealed that the mortality rate for under-75s had fallen from 124.6 per 100,000 of the population to 49 between 1995 and 2010 – a fall of 60.7 per cent.

The figures also showed significant improvements in tackling inequality in mortality rates between the poorest and most well-off parts of the country.

Between 2001 and 2010, death rates from heart disease were down 34.1 per cent in the most deprived areas – almost twice that of the least deprived areas, which saw an 18.1 per cent drop.

The mortality rate for strokes for the under-75s fell from 17.2 to 15.3 per 100,000 between 2009 and 2010 – an annual decrease of almost 11 per cent, with the mortality figures for 1995 to 2010 showing a 59 per cent reduction.

Public health minister Michael Matheson said: “For too long, heart disease and stroke have played their part in the premature death of too many Scots.

“However, these figures show that the tide is turning, that we’ve managed to cut mortality rates in the most deprived areas faster than anywhere else.”

David Clark, from Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland, welcomed the drop in deaths. But he added: “We’ve been less successful in reducing the actual incidence of heart disease and stroke, although there has been considerable progress here as well.

“This means that there are more people living with the impact of heart disease and stroke, and it’s important that we continue to support people living with these conditions.”