Coronary Artery Disease Deaths Halved in Ireland

Deaths from coronary artery disease have dropped by almost half since 1985 in Ireland, recent research indicates. Researchers think this drop is attributable mainly to lifestyle changes, such as smoking reduction and dietary changes.

Researchers obtained their results from published data on the effectiveness of specific heart disease treatments and on risk factors, such as smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, lack of physical activity.

They have found that deaths from coronary artery disease in Ireland fell by 47% between 1985 and 2000, which meant 3800 less deaths in 2000 as compared to 1985. Results concern people aged between 25 and 84.

Better and timelier treatment (including treatment of heart failure and secondary prevention) accounted for nearly 44% of this drop-off, while smoking cessation, cholesterol lowering and blood pressure lowering accounted for almost half of it (48%). The sharp reduction in smoking accounted for over 25% of the drop-off, cholesterol reduction for approximately 30%, and high blood pressure reduction for 6%.

Smoking rates were falling more slowly in Ireland as compared to the UK or other developed countries, but were given an impetus after the workplace smoking ban that came into force in 2004.

However, there have been increases in the rates of obesity, diabetes and sedentary lifestyle that threaten to offset these favourable statistics by 13% or 500 deaths. Researchers warn that, if these trends do not change for the better, they will probably overturn the substantial health advantages made in Ireland.

The study results can be found in the "Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health".

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