Cardiovascular System: Diseases

Mr. Jim Cunningham
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government have taken to reduce the incidence of death from cardiovascular disease among people under 75 since 1997.

Ann Keen
The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease (CHD) published in March 2000 sets a 10-year framework for action to prevent disease, tackle inequalities, save more lives, and improve the quality of life for people with heart disease.

The implementation of the NSF has led to a reduction in premature mortality, improved diagnostic and treatment facilities, faster care and better prevention of heart disease.

The target set out in ‘Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation’ to reduce deaths from cardiovascular disease (CHD and stroke and related diseases) by 40 per cent. in people under 75 by 2010 has been met five years early. The mortality rate fell by 40.3 per cent. between 2004 and 2006 over the 1995-97 baseline. This means that we are now saving nearly 31,000 lives per year from cardiovascular disease.

This progress is set out in detail in the recent report ‘Building for the future’, a copy of which has been placed in the Library and which is also available at

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_083060.