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Killer heart diseases continue to prey on Lothians' poorest  

HEART disease death rates are falling throughout Scotland's most deprived areas – except in the Lothians.

A total of 211 people died in the poorest parts of the Lothians from coronary heart problems between 2004 and 2006, one more than in 2003 to 2005. The death rate also rose slightly to 112.8 per 100,000 people, although this was still below the Scottish average. . . .

"Our argument has always been that as death rates are higher in deprived areas, resources and initiatives need to be targeted there. Heart disease is a problem in deprived areas for a combination of factors – people are more likely to smoke, are less physically active, less likely to have a healthy diet and less likely to get the health services they need." . . .

Dr Alison McCallum, director of public health at NHS Lothian, said: "While we are not complacent, it is encouraging to see that the work we're doing in encouraging healthy lifestyles appears to be paying off in terms of reductions of deaths from heart disease of people with deprived backgrounds. We have made providing practical help, referrals to other services and support to people in so-called hard-to-reach communities a major part of our work.

"This includes help to access services, practical support to help people stop smoking and become more active, all delivered in partnership with primary care, our local authority partners and community health projects."

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