One thousand deaths from cardiovascular disease, health ministry data shows

Almost a thousand deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases were recorded in Cyprus in 2021, according to data released by the ministry of health on Friday.

Figures provided by the health monitoring unit during a seminar on Wednesday indicate a total of 7,326 deaths in 2021, 994 of which were attributed to cardiovascular diseases.

In addition, it was reported that 6.5 per cent of the population, aged 18 and over, suffer from ischemic heart disease and 6.9 per cent from arterial diseases.

Risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease were also at significantly high rates, with diabetes at 12.5 per cent, arterial hypertension at 29.5 per cent and hyperlipidemia at 28.2 per cent.

Immediate intervention is imperative otherwise these figures will soar to even higher numbers, the ministry warned, and the issue has been set as one of the state’s priorities though development of a national strategy for effective management of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, leading to 17 million deaths annually.