Why heart deaths fell
Friday January 23rd, 2015
Falling blood pressure and cholesterol levels in England spared 20,000 people from death from heart disease over an eight year period, researchers say today.
About
a quarter of the deaths were prevented by the cholesterol-lowering drugs
statins - but their impact was greatest for the wealthiest people, according
to the new analysis.
The study finds that reductions in blood pressure were responsible for more than half the lives saved - but barely 15% of these were the result of drug treatments.
The big factor was improvements in risk factors - such as reductions in smoking and healthier diet, the researchers report in BMJ Open.
Statins prevented 50% more deaths among the wealthiest than among the poorest - but lifestyle changes had a bigger impact on the poor, the researchers say.
The findings shed new light on debates about giving medication to more people - and on the effect of improved medical treatment in preventing death from heart disease.
Researcher Dr Martin O’Flaherty, of Liverpool University, said the findings show that population-wide campaigns, such as those to reduce salt levels, have a bigger impact than prescribing drugs.
The British Heart Foundation said the study showed the approach to preventing heart disease in the UK was "working."
Associate medical director Dr Mike Knapton said: "We have made significant progress, preventing around 38,000 deaths from coronary heart disease, but there is still a long way to go.
“Statins played a significant role in reducing mortality rates, but this research suggests they were more effective in the most affluent areas of society.
“Given the pressures on NHS capacity and budgets, prevention is vital and addressing the health inequalities highlighted by this research could help save even more lives in the future.”
M Guzman-Castillo et al. The contribution of primary prevention medication and dietary change in coronary mortality reduction in England between 2000 and 2007: a modelling study. BMJ Open 23 January 2015; doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006070
Tags: Fitness | Heart Health | Pharmaceuticals | UK News
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