NZ heart health trails OECD average

NZ heart health trails OECD average

The Heart Foundation is concerned New Zealand is lagging behind most OECD countries when it comes to deaths from heart disease.

Today marks the beginning of the charity’s Annual Appeal, when it calls on Kiwis to support the fight against heart disease and take stock of their own heart health.
Heart Foundation Medical Director Gerry Devlin says while we have come a long way in our fight with heart disease, figures recently released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development are cause for concern.

According to the OECD, New Zealand loses 138 lives to heart disease per 100,000, which is 18% higher than the OECD average. We trail Australia and the United Kingdom (98 per 100,000), Canada (95 per 100,000) and the US (128 per 100,000).

“We already knew heart disease was New Zealand’s biggest killer but this new data shows we’re also performing far worse than many of our OECD counterparts,” Devlin says.

“It’s disappointing because although we’ve made great gains in preventing and treating heart disease in New Zealand, we still have a long way to go.”

The OECD report shows New Zealand’s heart disease mortality rate has dropped by 53% in the past 23 years. This is better than the OECD average of 45%, but well behind the UK (67%), Australia (64%) and Canada (59%).

Devlin says we don’t have research to fully explain this difference but there are likely to be multiple reasons, ranging from New Zealand’s smoking rates and high obesity levels, through to better access to treatment and uptake of medicines.

He emphasises it should caution us from taking our eye off the ball, as we clearly have a lot more work to do.

“The Heart Foundation is currently funding a number of major research projects that will seek to look at New Zealand-specific issues, including potential barriers to optimal heart health care for all Kiwis over the next few years.”

Throughout February, thousands of volunteers will hit the streets nationwide to raise funds during the Heart Foundation’s largest campaign of the year.

Donations will enable the Heart Foundation to fund research and cardiology training, supporting people with heart disease, promoting heart-healthy lifestyles and advancing cardiac care.

“We simply cannot continue our life-saving work without the generous support of everyday Kiwis. Every single dollar makes a difference,” Devlin says.

Make a donation to the Heart Foundation Annual Appeal:
PHONE: Call us on 0800 830 100
ONLINE: Go to www.heartfoundation.org.nz/donate
INSTORE: At your nearest BNZ branch

ENDS

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