Death toll from heart disease falls

Statistics show that 14,530 people died in the first quarter of this year, far fewer than in previous years, and the lowest since computerised records began in 1974.

The figures from the Registrar General for Scotland (GRO) show deaths from coronary heart disease fell dramatically, with 2,051 victims of the condition, a 10.4 per cent drop on the same quarter last year.

Duncan Macniven, the Registrar General for Scotland, warned against drawing conclusions from the statistics. But health campaigners gave them a cautious welcome and suggested efforts to tackle heart disease were having a positive impact.

Louise Peardon, assistant director of advice and support at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said: "It's encouraging to see that the statistics for coronary heart disease deaths in Scotland are still showing a downward trend.

"This can reflect advances in treatment but is also undoubtedly due to Scots taking responsibility for their health, a trend we very much welcome."

Judy O'Sullivan, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: "It's great news that the number of people dying from heart disease in Scotland is slowly decreasing.

"This will be due to a combination of factors including better access to diagnosis and treatments, as well as some improvements in lifestyle. However, it's far too soon to say 'job done'. Heart disease remains the single biggest killer in Scotland."

Speaking about the wider drop in deaths over the first quarter of 2011 compared to the previous year - a fall of 1.1 per cent - Mr Macniven said no "trend" should be drawn from the findings.

"Although this quarter shows a record low number of deaths, we shouldn't draw conclusions from that," he said.

"Death rates fluctuate through the year and quarterly figures aren't indicative of a trend."

Despite the optimistic news about heart disease, it appears less progress has been made in tackling other conditions which claim the lives of thousands of Scots every year.

Stroke fatalities increased by 0.7 per cent, from 1,341 to 1,351, while deaths from cancer rose by 1.5 per cent from 3,817 in the first three months of 2010 to 3,873.

The 'Births, Deaths and Other Vital Events' report covers the period between January and the end of March.

It also shows that as Scotland's population grows older, its birth rate is falling, and while the number of marriages has dropped, there has been a significant upturn in the number of civil partnerships.

The number of babies born over the three-month period fell marginally from 14,669 to 14,611, a decline of 0.4 per cent.At 3,130, the number of marriages was three fewer than in the first quarter of 2010; 98 civil partnerships - 46 male ceremonies and 52 female - were registered, 36 more than in 2010.